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prospects for agreement among the Nine have improved.
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Be that as it may, UND fully appreciate that Hong Kong's interest obliges us to be seen to be as active as possible, however unprofitable we may fear this will turn out to be- and that this activity may have to include proposals for joint action by the Nine. Now that it has become clearly established, however, that the Hong Kong interest is the paramount one, I hope you will agree that further action should be initiated by the geographical departments you supervise (whether HKGD or SEAD, depending on the particular aspects under consideration) as you yourself have been initiating the action at Under- Secretary level. This should include the initiation of any action which the Asian side of the Office considers desirable in the Political Committee. UND will naturally be ready to advise on relations with UNHCR and the domestic Whitehall departments and on the more general aspects of the overall refugees problem (We continue to remind ourselves that, for all the public attention it is receiving, Indo-China presents by no means the greatest refugee problem in terms of numbers) but I trust you and
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Mr Leahy will think it right that from now on the responsibility for policy on Indo-China refugees should be transferred to the geographical departments concern.
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In UND's view, a topic which might more fruitfully be discussed among the Nine is whether it is time to exert further pressure on Vietnam in this connexion, you have minuted to UND on UKMis Geneva telno 158 that we should argue this point seriously in the briefing for Mr Bullard. But it is surely for SEAD to advise on the merits and modalities of this course of action.
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I have spoken to Mr Leahy about future departmental responsibility for Indo-China refugees. I think he will agree broadly with what I have said in this minute. however, wish to have a word with him.
You may,
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24 May 1979
CC: Mr Cortazzi
Mr Bullard
Mr Leahy
SEAD
HKGD
EID (E)
SPD
CONFIDENTIAL
inhou
مسلمان
MK O Simpson Orlebar United Nations Department