TNAG-1069-FCO40-1319-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 69

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(1) IT WILL COMPROMISE OUR POSITION VIS-A-VIS THE VIETNAMESE FOR FUTURE REPATRIATION.

(11) CHINESE PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG WOULD FIND IT HARD TO ACCEPT THAT AN EXCEPTION WAS MADE FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

WHEN ALMOST NONE IS EVER MADE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.

(111) THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO SEND OUT UNACCOMPANIED

MINORS AS ANCHOR CASES.

(B) TO INSTRUCT IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT

THE CHILDREN BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, FORCIBLY, IF NECESSARY. THE THE DISADVANTAGES OF THIS ARE:-

(1) EXPATRIATE OPINION IN HONG KONG, WHICH WOULD BE STIRRED

UP BY MISS CAMPBELL WOULD ACCUSE OF CALLOUSNESS.

(11) SIMILAR ACCUSATIONS MIGHT BE LEVELLED IN THE UK BECAUSE

OF THE SCOTTISH YMCA'S INTEREST IN THE CASE.

WE STRONGLY FAVOUR ALTERNATIVE (B) AND BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ANSWER

CRITICISMS BY SAYING THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN TO BE WITH THEIR PARENTS. TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE,

IT IS NOT TRUE TO SAY THAT THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN HAVE INDICATED FIRMLY THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THEM BACK. LETTERS FROM THE

PARENTS ON UNHCR'S FILES HAVE SIMPLY ASKED WHETHER THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO THE USA. UNHCR ARE CHECKING TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER LETTERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED WHICH MIGHT, IF RELEASED TO THE PRESS, CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT. SUBJECT ONLY TO THESE CHECKS PROVING NEGATIVE, UNHCR PROPOSE TO RE-PATRIATE THE CHILDREN TO VIETNAM ON

11TH NOVEMBER. THE TRAVEL BOOKINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY UNHCR.

MACLEHOSE

MINIMAL HK YGD SEAD

COPIE) TO '

HONG KONG GOVT Office

LONDON

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