CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
MDA Clinton Esq CMG GM
Deputy Colonial Secretary HONG KONG
Telephone 01-
271
Your reference SCR 1/4821/75
Our reference
Date
HKK 18/25
28 August 1975
266)
Dear Mike,
NEX)
REF.
301)
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
Thank you for your letter of 20 August. This probably 259 crossed with my letter of 15 August to Charles Drace-Francis, from 25
which you will have seen that we are continuing to press the Home Office to agree to accept the 70 odd refugees who have applied to come to Britain.
2.
The Home Secretary is on leave until 8 September. flowever, we understand that his officials will be asking him to take a decision on the Vietnamese refugees as soon as possible after his return. Admission would, of course, also be subject to satisfactory security clearance of the people concerned; the necessary enquiries are proceeding in parallel.
3.
We shall, of course, let you know by telegram as soon as we have anything further to report. In the meantime, I can only add that I share your frustration that this has been such a long-drawn-out business; and also your view that we can do little to influence other potential recipient countries if we are not seen to be doing our bit. We are pressing the latter argument strongly here.
Yours ever Laurence
PL O'Keeffe
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
id Men
BU 8/9
BD
CONFIDENTIAL
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