TNAG-0971-FCO40-1190-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1980 — Page 99

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4. AS REGARDS THE PRESENT QUOTA I TOLD RAISON THAT A HIGHER RATE OF MONTHLY OFF-TAKE OF 500 WOULD BE NECESSARY IF THE UK COMMITMENT WAS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF MARCH 1981. RAISON WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED.

5. WE HAVE ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, BEEN ENGAGED IN THE REPATRIATION OF CHINA CASES SINCE 29TH AUGUST. SO FAR 1295 HAVE BEEN RETURNED AND THE FINAL GROUP (812) IN THE SERIES WILL BE REPATRIATED BY TRAIN ON THE NIGHT OF 18TH/19TH SEPTEMBER. THE ENTIRE OPERATION SO FAR HAS GONE SMOOTHLY AND WITHOUT UNTOWARD INCIDENT.

MACLEHOSE

[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]

MINIMAL

HK & GD

SEAD

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON

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