CONFIDENTIAL
22597
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ATTITUDE TO INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. HOWEVER, AS CLIFT SAID
IN HIS TELELETTER TO YOU OF 15 SEPTEMBER, WE SHOULD HAVE NO
OBJECTION TO YOUR HOLDING A MEETING WITH SIMINGTON AND PIKE,
PROVIDED ALL CONCERNED CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT FORCIBLE
REPATRIATION HAS BEEN RULED OUT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT
ANY RECONSIDERATION OF THIS POSITION WOULD BE DEPENDENT AT THE
VERY LEAST ON CAST IRON GUARANTEES ACCEPTABLE TO UNHCR BEING
OBTAINED FROM THE VIETNAMESE.
4. I AM SORRY IF THIS ALL SOUNDS UNHELPFUL. AS YOU KNOW, WE
ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE BURDEN THAT HONG KONG IS CARRYING AND
SYMPATHISE GREATLY WITH THE FRUSTRATING SITUATION IN WHICH YOU FIN
YOURSELF. BUT WE HOPE IN TURN THAT YOU WILL APPRECIATE THE REAL
POLITICAL AND LEGAL CONSTRAINTS WITHIN WHICH WE MUST OPERATE.
5. WE SHALL BE IN TOUCH AGAIN WHEN WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE
HOME OFFICE.
SIGNED
CO HUM
2
CONFIDENTIAL