TNAG-0896-FCO40-1106-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 317

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Mr Cortazzi

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:

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CONFIDENTIAL

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YOUR VISIT TO WASHINGTO

WASHINGTON phon

I attach copies of the following telegrams which you may find useful for your talks with Ambassador Clark and other US officials about the need for Hong Kong to be given fair treatment in the allocation of resettlement places:-

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2.

a) Hong Kong telegram No 1100 containing the Governor's

advice;

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b) Hong Kong telegrams Nos 1056 and 1060 on sea rescue;

c) Hong Kong telegram No 1117 giving the latest figures

for arrivals in Hong Kong and resettlement from the territory;

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d) UKMIS Geneva telegram No 363 with an account of the

meeting to follow up the Geneva Conference held by UNHCR on 23 July.

You will want to mention our intensive lobbying of potential resettlement countries post-Geneva. You might say that while the results were reasonably encouraging it is clear that the key to a real reduction in the burden now carried by Hong Kong Lies with the United States.

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In referring to our own quota of 10,000, you might say that a Home Office team will be in Hong Kong in mid-August with the aim of selecting a a further 1,500 for settlement in the UK. But you will want to sidestep questions about how long it will take to being the 10,000 to this country.

7 August 1979

RJT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

CONFIDENTIAL.