Paddy Ashdown, M.P.
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24
(2) HKD for draft reply from Mr Luce by 7/2
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
The Rt. Hon. Sir. G. Howe MP, Secretary of State,
Foreign And Commonwealth Office Downing Street
LONDON SW1
Dear Sir Geoffrag
LONDON SWIA OAA
Our ref - CMB//.
Date :- 24 January 1985
Subject:- IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG
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I attach a copy of a letter from that very brave women Mrs. Elsie Elliott CBE. This is, I think, self-explanatory.
I should be grateful to know the details of the situation surrounding the Iranians which Mrs. Elliott refers to in her first paragraph. When I visited Hong Kong I visited one of the closed camps referred to later in Mrs. Elliott's letter. I must tell you that it was one
the most shocking experiences of my life. The fact that these people who have fled to freedom (they hoped) are now incarcerated under the most dreadful conditions I have seen; that this is done in my name, as a British Member of Parliament, or at least with my acquiesence, makes the matter even worse. I do not so much blame the Hong Kong government for the policy as I blame the British Government for having been totally derelict in taking Vietnamese refugees. I would be grateful to know how you view this matter and whether the Government is proposing any change in policy.
Yours sincerely,
Paddy Ashdown, M.P.
Enc.
Mr. Hoove Нося
HKK 243/5.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
18 FEB 1965
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