CONFIDENTIAL
063547 MDHIAN 3140
5.
DEAL OF CRITICISM INTERNATIONALLY.
B) TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE IN FROM THE START ON ANY PLANS FOR
NEW RESETTLEMENT ARRANGEMENTS:
C) TO AVOID THE IMPRESSION THAT HONG KONG WAS DELIBERATELY
GOING IT ALONE IN ITS POLICY ON BOAT PEOPLE AND TO RETAIN THE
SUPPORT OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND THE UNHCR FOR OUR NEW POLICY.
THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE MIGHT BE THAT WE WOULD ENCOUNTER ATTEMPTS BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO PERSUADE US TO SLOW DOWN ON OUR OWN POLICY, EITHER DOMESTICALLY OR IN OUR TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE, UNTIL A
REGIONALLY AGREED POLICY WAS IN PLACE. HOWEVER WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING GOT AS FAR AS WE HAVE, THIS COULD BE RESISTED AND THAT WE SHOULD STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF CARRYING OTHERS WITH US BY
PARTICIPATING FULLY IN A SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS.
6.
THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM FOR US IS HONG KONG PARTICIPATION IN THE
WORKING GROUP MEETING ON 16/17 SEPTEMBER. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT
YOU WILL WISH TO TAKE UP THE INVITIATION TO ATTEND, I SHOULD LIKE HANSON, TO JOIN THE UK REPRESENTATIVE (HK HAS NOT BEEN INVITED SEPARATELY). HE COULD PROVIDE VALUABLE PRACTICAL INSIGHT INTO A
TAST CHANGING SITUATION. IF HE IS TO GO WE SHALL HAVE TO MOVE
FAST ON PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS.
7. GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR YOUR VIEWS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BY DESKBY 14010OZ AT THE LATEST.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
107
.VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
DISTRIBUTION
110
FED NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
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