TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

3. DURING JULY THE US OFFTAKE FROM HONG KONG ONLY REACHED 785 AGAINST THEIR TARGET FOR THE MONTH OF 1,000. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON FOR THIS IS A TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCKAGE IN NEW YORK OVER PROCESSING SPONSORSHIPS, RATHER THAN OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES ON THE GROUND HERE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD SEEK AN ASSURANCE THAT THE SHORTFALL, AND ANY SHORTFALL IN AUGUST (WHEN THEIR TARTET IS 1,500) WILL BE MADE UP QUICKLY FROM SEPTEMBER

ONWARDS.

4. A US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, SENT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND LED BY ROSENTHAL (DEMOCRAT-NEW YORK) IS COMING HERE BRIEFLY ON 4 AUGUST TO LOOK AT THE REFUGEE SITUATION. I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF ANYTHING COMES UP WHICH SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL POINTS TO BE MADE IN WASHINGTON. WE ARE ALSO DUE A VISIT BY THE WOLFF SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON 8 AUGUST.

S. ON SEA RESCUE YOU WILL HAVE SEEN MY TELNOS 1056 AND 1860.

6. IT IS ON THE CARDS THAT EARLY NEXT YEAR WE MAY BE FACED WITH BOTH A RECESSION AND AN INCREASE IN BOAT REFUGEES. THERE IS THEREFORE AN ELEMENT OF A RACE AGAINST TIME BOTH PHYSICALLY TO REDUCE NUMBERS IN THE CAMPS AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THE VIETNAMESE REALLY ARE TRANSIENTS.

MACLEHOSE

Hit v QD SCAR

FIL CERTAZZI

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CONFIDENTIAL