7. I SPOKE TO THE HIGH COMMISSIONER LATE ON THE EVENING OF
-13 OCTOBER, HE SAID THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE IGC HE WAS
WORKING ON DURABLE SOLUTIONS TO HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS. I
COULD NOT DRAW HIM FURTHER. HE STRESSED THAT HNG'S ATTITUDE
WAS VERY IMPORTANT. THE OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES LOOKED TO
HMG FOR A LEAD AND WITHOUT IT WERE RELUCTANT TO DO MORE.
SAID THAT HE WOULD PRESS HMG ON THIS WHEN HE VISITED
LONDON AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
HE
COMMENT
2.
EVERYONE TO WHOM I SPOKE SEEMED TO BE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT THE IGC MEETING AND I THINK THAT THIS REFLECTS BOTH THE
IMPORTANCE OF SUCH MEETINGS AND THEIR INFREQUENCY. THERE
DOES SEEM TO BE A WIND IN FAVOUR OF SCREENING AND MORE THOUGHT
IS BEING GIVEN TO WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE SCREENED OUT. THERE
DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH SUPPORT FOR THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S
THIRD CATEGORY. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SYMPATHY
FOR HONG KONG BUT EXASPERATION AT HMG'S FAILURE TO MAKE AN
ONGOING COMMITMENT. HMG'S MEMBERSHIP OF THE IGC SEEMS TO
HAVE BEEN PUT OFF UNTIL IDEAS HAVE CLARIFIED.
9. I WILL BE MEETING MOORE AND FUNSETH IN WASHINGTON
AND I EXPECT THEM TO BE MORE FORTHCOMING. IT MIGHT
HELP IF WE WERE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE QUESTIONS PUT TO HOCKE
IN THE SUMMER.
ENDS
CONFIDENTIAL