CONFIDENTIAL
asylum countries, in confidence, that they would not be left with the burden for good, there would be implacable political opposition in America to any such undertakings. The US intended however "to send a variety of signals to Vietnam, designed to break the impression that resettlement in the USA is virtually automatic if you can reach a first- asylum country". Although he fully understood the short-term impact this would have on first asylum countries, he believed the longer-term effect would prove favourable to Hong Kong. America did not want to leave Hong Kong in the lurch; and would do what she could within her own political constraints.
Security Branch
Government Secretariat
Hong Kong
File: CR 11/4821/79
Distribution :
S for S
DS (S)
PA
DPA
D of I (Mr Chadderton).
C of CS (Mr Hydes)
CP (Mr Worrall)
SHA (Mr Masefield)
CEO (S) R
HKGO, London
(Mrs Helen Yu)
FCO
: R.D. Clift, Esq. HKGD
K.F.X.Burns, Esq. SEAD
Chanceries :
Washington
UKMIS Geneva
-་་-་་་
CONFIDENTIAL
Singapore,
Kuala Lumpur
Jakarta
Manila
Bangkok
Hanoi
(copies despatched
12 March 82)