WON FO 39/18
GRS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
TELELETTER
Hkk 243/1
71
Mr. Williams
RE LIVES
दिलण
No
CCE
24/6
FROM S J GOMERSALL, WASHINGTON
FILE REFERENCE 243/3
an Tay
Af 29
121
DATE D 17 JUNE 1982
FOLLOWING FOR
R J T MCLAREN, POLITICAL ADVISER, HONG KONG R D CLIFT, HK GD, FCO
117
YOUR TELNO 631 OF 15 JUNE AND FCO TELNO 1183 OF 16 JUNE:
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FCO TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE I BRIEFED HARTER IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT TODAY, IN THE PRESENCE OF A MEMBER OF THE BUREAU FOR REFUGEE PROGRAMMES. I HANDED OVER IN CONFIDENCE A COPY OF PARAS 2 AND 3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, MAKING CLEAR THAT THIS WAS SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL IN HONG KONG. HARTER HAD NOT HAD WORD FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL AND WAS GRATEFUL FOR THIS NOTICE. HE EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS FOR A CLOSED CAMP POLICY, AND SYMPATHISED WITH THE POSITION OF HONG KONG, WHICH HAD BEEN NOTICABLY MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE AREA. THEY ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT, AS THE GOVERNOR TOLD HOLDRIDGE IN MARCH, OUR AIM WAS TO ATTRACT PUBLICITY SO THAT THE POLICY WOULD HAVE THE MAXIMUM DETERRENT EFFECT. THEY RAISED NO QUESTIONS OF DETAIL, AND AGREED THAT IF THEY WISHED TO DO SO LATER, THEY WOULD DO IT THROUGH THEIR CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG.
2. INCIDENTALLY, HARTER HIMSELF HAS JUST BEEN APPOINTED AS THE NEXT POLITICAL COUNSELLOR AT THE CONSULATE GENERAL. HE IS A SEASONED
CHINA-WATCHER AND HAS BEEN IN HONG KONG BEFORE. HE IS A LITTLE
MORE RETICENT THAN SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE BUREAU, BUT I AM
SURE YOU WILL FIND HIM AGREEABLE.
SIGNED S J GOMERSALL
ALAJARA
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.