TNAG-0654-FCO40-803-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 51

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243/33/1

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK

Hakk

V No. 51

23 SEP 1977

DESK DAM

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FM HANOI 230407Z

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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 147 OF 23 SEPT

INFO PRIORITY FCO

SPECIAL FLIGHTS

1. DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH MISS LUKE IN HO CHI MINH CITY THIS WEEK, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPT SAID THEY DID NOT INTEND TO GIVE CLEARANCE FOR FURTHER FLIGHTS UNTIL THEY RECEIVE SOME CO-OPERATION OVER QUESTION OF 1,500 EXIT PERMIT HOLDERS WHO CLAIM TO HAVE APPLIED FOR HONG KONG ENTRY,

2. FULL ACCOUNT OF DISCUSSIONS FOLLOW BY BAG, BUT WOULD YOU BE WILLING AS GESTURE OF GOODWILL TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THESE FIFTEEN HUNDRED APPLICANTS THROUGH THEIR SPONSORS IN HONG KONG AND START PROCESSING THEM? IF SO, LISTS WHICH YOU HOLD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE SPONSORS, OR DO YOU REQUIRE FURTHER DETAILS FROM VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES? IF YOU HAVE ALREADY TRIED TO TRACK THEM DOWN THROUGH THE SPONSORS AND FAILED CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM?

3. WE ARE SEEKING FORMAL CLEARANCE FOR OCTOBER FLIGHTS BUT SUSPECT THAT THIS WILL BE MET WITH SAME SILENCE AS OUR REQUEST FOR CLEARANCE FOR THOSE WHICH WERE PROPOSED FOR SEPTEMBER.

TESH

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SEAD

MVD

MAEO

HK & GD

LAST

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NORT

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MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL