CONFIDENTIAL
5. So far as Congressional opinion goes, our impression is that the main pressure lies in ensuring that the Administration's response to the refugee problem is of a general order of magnitude commensurate with the broader political mood reflected through Congres It has not up to now involved great discrimination as between competing candidates among the countries of first refuge. But the increasing personal involvement of members of Congress on the relevant Congressional Committees could be relevant here, as could such factors as whether the majority of a given refugee population comes from North or South Vietnam. But while the more informed members of Congress can be expected to listen sympathetically to Hong Kong's case, I am less sure how far it goes beyond that: there are so many pressures on them of more immediate impact. But the more we can get members of Congress to see things on the ground in Hong Kong (as the current visitors are doing) the better the
chances.
6. In terms of punching home Hong Kong's case for a greater offtake by the United States, nagging away at the middle level officials will not in my view do much good. Nothing less than the level of Ambassador Clark is likely to do the trick (and it may even mean Vance or Mondale). If we want to secure a new policy decision in Hong Kong's favour we must generate the right political impulse. While the Governor undoubtedly made a powerful personal impact when he visited Washington, you will be aware how easily that kind of momentum can be dissipated in the absence of firm commitments on the spot. Hugh Cortazzi will be here later this week and will I am sure be taking things up both with Holbrooke and Dick Clark.
yous you John
PJ Weston
CC:
A M Simons Esq
SEAD, FCO
RJ T McLaren Esq HK> Dept, FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
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