TNAG-1273-FCO40-1623-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 21

HOFO 003/24

T/L FCO

GR 160

CONFIDENTIAL

TELELETTER

HKK 24371

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

-

1 JUN 1983

REGISTRY

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

Tom

FROM: A.K. MASON, SECURITY BRANCH, HONG KONG

FILE NO: SCR 1/866/82

0136/24

(65)

DATED: 23 MAY 1983

(CORRECTED VERSION)

FOLLOWING FOR: RICHARD HOARE, HKGD, FCO

AS YOU KNOW, ON THE DIRECTION OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY WE HAVE STARTED GIVING GUIDANCE TO HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES IN OVERSEAS

MISSIONS ON A VARIETY OF MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG ON

WHICH THE REPRESENTATIVES CAN USEFULLY SPEAK AS AND WHEN THE

OPPORTUNITY OFFERS. ONE OF THESE MATTERS IS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

AND THE DRAFT IN MIF TELELETTER HAS BEEN PREPARED IN THE LIGHT OF

ADVICE FROM UNHCR THAT WE SHOULD MAKE GREATER USE OF OUR OVERSEAS OFFICERS TO PUT HONG KONG'S CASE FOR MORE RESETTLEMENT. IN VIEW OF YOUR INTEREST, WOULD YOU LET ME KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL LINE IT FOLLOWS?

2. WE HAVE WONDERED WHETHER IT MIGHT NOT GO ALSO AS FCO GUIDANCE TO CERTAIN POSTS WHERE THERE ARE NO HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES, BUT WHERE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG'S PLIGHT BY THE GOVERNMENT

CONCERNED MIGHT CONCEIVABLY HELP US IN DEALING WITH THIS INTRACTABLE

PROBLEM?

SIGNED: A.K. MASON

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