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TO THE US IS ONLY LIKELY FOR THOSE IN CATEGORIES I, 11 AND 111 UNDER THE PRESENT PROGRAMME. ON THE BASIS OF PAST EXPERIENCE THIS WILL ONLY BE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 PERCENT OF THE REFUGEES ON BOARD
THE ''WHIPPLE''.
4. WE HAVE WARNED THE AMERICANS (WHO WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO
THE STATE DEPARTMENT) THAT UNLESS THEY CAN FIND WAYS OF ENSURING THAT OUR PRESENT POLICY DOES NOT CARRY THIS PENALTY, WE SHALL, RELUCTANTLY, HAVE TO DEMAND A GUARANTEE IN FUTURE FOR ARRIVALS ON US VESSELS.
5. GRATEFUL IF WASHINGTON WOULD SPEAK TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON
THE LINES OF PARAS 1 TO 4 ABOVE.
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6. THE PROPOSAL FOR A TRANSIT CENTRE IN MACAU (SEE PARA 4 OF ORR'S LETTER OF 21 JULY TO MORGAN, UN D) HAS RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES,
PARTLY DUE TO DISAGREEMENTS WITHIN THE MACAU GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND US CONSULATE-GENERAL BELIEVE THAT UNHCR HAVE NOT BE PURSUING IT WITH SUFFICIENT VIGOUR. THE AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO UNHCR IN GENEVA.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S INTEREST IN THIS PROPOSAL (WHICH WE SUPPORT) STEMS FROM CONCERN THAT THE HIGH COST OF ACCOMMODATION IN HONG KONG WILL CREATE PROBLEMS WITH CONGRESS IF THE ADMINISTRATION WERE TO REQUEST INCREASED FUNDS FOR UNHCR'S
INDO-CHINA REFUGEE PROGRAMME.
7. IF YOU AGREE, GRATEFUL IF UKMIS GENEVA WOULD MAKE REPRESENTATIONS
AT A HIGH LEVEL TO UNHCR ON THE FOLLOWING LINES :
A. HONG KONG IS EXTREMELY CONCERNED AT THE RAPID INCREASE IN
NUMBERS OF REFUGEES AND BELIEVES THAT FURTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
BY UNHCR IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT PROBLEMS OF ACCOMMODATION AND
PROCESSING DO NOT REACH UNMANAGEABLE PROPORTIONS.
B. URGENT EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO RESOLVE THE DIFFICULTIES OVER
THE PROPOSED TRANSIT CAMP IN MACAU.
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/C. GRATEFUL