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HKK 243/1
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710
FROM R D CLIFT, HONG KONG
AND GENE AL DEPA TMENT
DATED 20 JULY 1982
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FILE REFERENCE HKK 243/1
FOLLOWING FOR SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, CHIEF SECRETA Y, GOVE NMENT
SECRETARIAT, HONG KONG
REPA FTIRATION OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1.
2.
YOUR TEL NO 723 OF 6 JULY.40
WE QUITE UNDERSTAND YOUR WISH THAT THE OPTION OF INVOLUNTARY
REPATRIATION SHOULD NOT BE PUBLICLY RULED OUT. HOWEVE I KNOW
THAT YOU APPRECIATE THAT IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES MINISTERS DO
NOT SEE THIS AS ACCEPTABLE WITHIN THE UK. THERE ARE ALSO INTER- (144)NATIONAL OBJECTIONS (SEE LETTER FROM LONG UKMIS GENEVA UN243/3
CIONA
OF 13 JULY TO ME). IT WOULD THEREFORE BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOU
WOULD ENSURE THAT WE ARE CONSULTED IN ADVANCE ABOUT ANY PUBLIC
STATEMENT IN HONG KONG DEALING WITH THE QUESTION WHICH MIGHT
CUT ACROSS THESE POINTS.
3. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THE SITUATION RE MINORS. WE AGREE
THAT YOU SHOULD LEAVE THINGS WITH THE UNHCR. INDEED, BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULT PUBLIC RELATIONS ANGLE, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, IF A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, TO EMPHASISE PUBLICLY THAT
REPAT IATION IS A UNHCR, NOT A HONG KONG GOVE NMENT, INITIATIVE.
SIGNED R D CLIFT
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