Some 1,100 of the 1,700 refugees selected on the last trip have already been called forward for arrival before the end of December. It would not be much use sending out a team before the campaign to draw attention to the United Kingdom has got under way. We therefore propose that Mr Love, who joined the selection team on their last visit, should arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday 6 January and spend a week preparing the ground for the actual selection process. Our team would then arrive on Sunday 13 January, with the aim of selecting as many refugees as possible, and we are able to spare them for this purpose for three weeks i.e. leaving on 2 February.
I know that there will be disappointment in Hong Kong that we cannot keep up the October take of over 1,000 in the succeeding months.
I have told the Governor that I will keep Bim Davies informed of the follow up to my visit and I propose to write him a letter somewhat on the lines of this one.
wn
Jerem
Mily; Wouchfick.
(P J WOODFIELD)