TNAG-0974-FCO40-1193-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 185

香港布政司署

CHIEF SECRETARY'S OFFICE

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

HONG KONG

M W T Warden

Commissioner

Commission for Canada

Asian House 15 floor

HONG KONG

12 February 1980

Den Commissioner

I have been following with admiration the highly efficient Canadian resettlement programme from Hong Kong of boat refugees from Vietnam. The numbers accepted by Canada have been, and continue to be, a major element in resettlement from Hong Kong. It is a tribute to the dedication of your staff that this programme has operated so smoothly. So far it may have attracted relatively little attention in the media, but I can assure you that both the Government and people of Hong Kong have noticed with gratitude the effect which Canada's programme has had in relieving the intense pressure on refugee camps here.

On the day on which the first Boeing 747 will be leaving under the series of charter flights for boat refugees from Hong Kong to Canada, I should like to express formally our deep appreciation and to ask that this should be passed to the Government of Canada and to the many private organisations and individuals who have done so much in Canada for the boat refugees. As you know, we have been worried, with reason, that boat refugees in Hong Kong would become the forgotten people'. In Canada they have not been forgotten: that is something we shall remember here for a long time.

Jane most sincity,

fach Ca

You

ater

(Jack Cater)

Chief Secretary

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