TNAG-1179-FCO40-1481-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 103

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CHANGE IN PRESENT POLICY.

HOWEVER, AS I AM SURE YOU KNOW, CURRENT

PRACTICE DOES EFFECTIVELY RESULT IN THE ACCEPTANCE IN THE UK OF

REFUGEES PICKED UP BY BRITISH SHIPS AND LANDED IN HONG KONG. IT

IS JUST THAT HMG ARE NOT PREPARED TO GIVE AN ADVANCE BLANKET

GUARANTEE TO ANY STATE OR TERRITORY.

4. IN HIS FOLLOW-UP TELELETTER OF 9 DECEMBER, BIM ASKED ABOUT

REFUGEES FROM THREE VESSELS WHO ARE STILL IN HONG KONG. THE HOME

OFFICE WERE NOT AWARE THAT YOU ATTACHED ANY PRIORITY WITHIN THE

REMAINING QUOTA MOVEMENTS TO THESE REFUGEES, AND NEITHER THEY NOR

WE WERE CONSCIOUS OF ANY DEADLINES PASSING. BUT THE HOME OFFICE

ARE NOW ARRANGING FOR THEM ALL TO BE BROUGHT HERE BEFORE THE END

OF JANUARY.

5. NONE OF THIS, I AM AFRAID, IS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL FROM YOUR

POINT OF VIEW. I KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE

CONSTRAINTS AT THIS END. IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO DISCUSS THE PROB-

LEM IN JANUARY, AND IT WILL BE USEFUL FOR THE LORD PRIVY SEAL TO

SEE CONDITIONS FOR HIMSELF ON THE SPOT. YOURS EVER, ALAN'.

2. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TUESDAY.

SIGNED R D CLIFT

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CONFIDENTIAL