TNAG-0653-FCO40-802-Previously-closed-extract-Folio-87.-Now-released-and-reunite-1977 — Page 105

CONFIDENTIAL

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HONG KONG FLIGHTS

I discussed future arrangements for the repatriation of Hong Kong Belongers from South Vietnam with Mr Maideen in very general terms while I was in Ho Chi Minh City. I said that we recognised that it had been a magnificent achievement on his part to have set up the organisation which he had for getting these people out of the country. However, we could not expect him to continue working at such pressure indefinitely on our behalf. Had he any ideas on how his present work-load could be reduced or on how the departure of the Hong Kong citizens and dependents could be handled after his own eventual departure? I assumed he did not want to stay for ever and it would certainly not be fair for us to expect him to. I added that I was looking for ways of cutting down the time and paperwork devoted to Hong Kong consular business in Hanoi, so that I could pay a bit more attention to those aspects of my job which, because I had no time to deal with them, were now being handled by you. Any ideas he might have on this would also be most welcome.

2. Mr Maideen agreed that he did not want to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for

He ever but asked if he might be allowed to return for four to five months. was convinced that this would be enough time to complete the repatriation of all the people whom Hong Kong were willing to accept. There was no question of more ethnic Chinese with Hong Kong connections applying for entry as word reached them in other parts of South Vietnam of the success of the present operation. All the Chinese community had come to Saigon after liberation and all now knew how to apply to go to Hong Kong. Those who had any hope of settling there had now applied to do so.

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3. Mr Maideen asked me exactly what the FCO's attitude was towards him. replied, truthfully, that although I had heard a lot about him and his work before coming to Vietnam, nobody had ever discussed with me their "attitudo" towards him. I thought, however, that it could probably be summed up as being one of enormous gratitude for the tremendous job he had done, coupled with mild despair on the part of those who had to try to apply the rules relating to

· staff and finances to an office which did not conform with any recognised form of British representation. (This last was said in the context of my obtaining from him a detailed list of his staff, their duties and their pay.) He laughed and we left it at that.

4.

I was able to have a few words with Mr Kuo of Hong Kong Immigration Department in the reasonably secure surroundings of the passenger departure hall for the sixth flight. Mr Kuo said that:

CONFIDENTIAL

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