RESTRICTED
4. THE FIRST WOULD BE THAT, BECAUSE OF THE ENCOURAGING RESPONSE TO THE UK INITIATIVE FROM OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, HMG HAS AGREED TO ACCEPT A FURTHER COMMITMENT (PARA 3 OF YOUR TELNO 685). WE PLAN TO PUT A PROPOSAL DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THIS END TO YOU WHEN WE CAN BE MORE CERTAIN WHAT THE RESPONSE TO THE UK INITIATIVE HAS BEEN.
5. THE SECOND WOULD BE THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN APPROACHED WITH THE RESULT EITHER THAT SATISFACTORY ARRANGMENETS FOR INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED OR THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT PROVED INTRANSGENT.
6. IF WE DO NOT HAVE EITHER RESPONSE, THEN OUR POSITION WILL BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. ONCE THE US, CANADA AND THE AUSTRALIANS CUT DOWN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES THEY TAKE FROM HONG KONG, THE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW SUIT. WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD TAKE THIS SCENARIO INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU RECONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE UP INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WITH THE VIETNAMESE.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
SIR. W. HARDING
MR. WILSON
RESTRICTED
€