CONFIDENTIAL
68
TT HONG KONG
GRS 571
CONFIDENTIAL
TELELETTER
FROM R J F HOARE HKD
DATED 1 JUNE 1983
!
f
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
-
- 2 JUN 1933
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
Action Taken
12473 1
PA
No
Fly
Am!
64 +65
FOLLOWING FOR A K MASON ESQ SECURITY BRANCH GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
HONG KONG
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TWO TELELETTERS DATED 23 MAY. WE ARE
MOST GRATEFUL FOR SIGHT OF THE PROPOSED GUIDANCE TELEGRAM IN DRAFT,
AND HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL LINE:
WE
(A) PARAGRAPH 5 WE THINK THIS IS A BIT TOO UNCOMPROMISING.
SUGGEST THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE BE REPLACED BY SOMETHING ON THE
LINES OF 'WE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO TAKE MORE VR'S UNLESS
RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS IMPROVE. THE PRESENT SITUATION POSES THE
FOLLOWING PROBLEMS'.
(B) PARAGRAPH 5 (C) WE SUGGEST THE SECOND SENTENCE IS DELETED
OR AT LEAST PLACED IN SQUARE BRACKETS. TO USE THIS FREELY COULD
ATTRACT CRITICISM OF IMMIGRATION POLICY, WHICH WE ARE ANXIOUS TO
AVOID.
(C) PARAGRAPH 8 WE WOULD PREFER THIS REFERENCE TO THE ABSENCE OF
A UK OPTION TO BE OMITTED AS WE DO NOT THINK THIS IS REALLY AN
APPROPRIATE POINT FOR HKG OFFICIALS WHO ARE ON THE STAFF OF
BRITISH EMBASSIES TO MAKE. WE SUGGEST THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE LAST SENTENCE TO MAKE CLEAR THAT LOBBYING
MUST BE DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UK MISSIONS CONCERNED.
PRESUMABLY YOU WILL BE SENDING SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO THIS
EFFECT.
(D) PARAGRAPH 10 THESE APPROACHES HAVE
NOW BEEN MADE. WE
WOULD PREFER THE LAST SENTENCE TO READ: 'IN THE LIGHT OF THESE
APPROACHES, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO THE NEXT
STEP'.
(E) LINE TO TAKE, PARAGRAPH 2 WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THE SECOND
SENTENCE AND WOULD PREFER THE REFERENCE TO REPATRIATION TO BE
DELETED (BUT SEE (H) BELOW).
1
CONFIDENTIAL