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(1) IT WILL COMPROMISE OUR POSITION VIS-A-VIS THE VIETNAMESE FOR FUTURE REPATRIATION.
(11) CHINESE PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG WOULD FIND IT HARD TO ACCEPT THAT AN EXCEPTION WAS MADE FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
WHEN ALMOST NONE IS EVER MADE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.
(111) THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO SEND OUT UNACCOMPANIED
MINORS AS ANCHOR CASES.
(B) TO INSTRUCT IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT
THE CHILDREN BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, FORCIBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE THE DISADVANTAGES OF THIS ARE:-
(1) EXPATRIATE OPINION IN HONG KONG, WHICH WOULD BE STIRRED
UP BY MISS CAMPBELL WOULD ACCUSE OF CALLOUSNESS.
(11) SIMILAR ACCUSATIONS MIGHT BE LEVELLED IN THE UK BECAUSE
OF THE SCOTTISH YMCA'S INTEREST IN THE CASE.
WE STRONGLY FAVOUR ALTERNATIVE (B) AND BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ANSWER
CRITICISMS BY SAYING THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN TO BE WITH THEIR PARENTS. TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE,
IT IS NOT TRUE TO SAY THAT THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN HAVE INDICATED FIRMLY THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THEM BACK. LETTERS FROM THE
PARENTS ON UNHCR'S FILES HAVE SIMPLY ASKED WHETHER THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO THE USA. UNHCR ARE CHECKING TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER LETTERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED WHICH MIGHT, IF RELEASED TO THE PRESS, CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT. SUBJECT ONLY TO THESE CHECKS PROVING NEGATIVE, UNHCR PROPOSE TO RE-PATRIATE THE CHILDREN TO VIETNAM ON
11TH NOVEMBER. THE TRAVEL BOOKINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY UNHCR.
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL HK YGD SEAD
COPIE) TO '
HONG KONG GOVT Office
LONDON
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