question of the near-dependants (upon whom undertakings for sympathetic reconsideration had already been given and were being implemented) and that his recent visit to Hong Kong and his forthcoming visit to London could only serve to endorse the need for some sympathetic action to be decided without too much delay.
8.
Again, on the closure of the meeting, Mr Hartling made a point of saying to me that he looked forward to meeting Ministers in the following week, asking whether I would be present (I am available if required) and re-iterating that he hoped his visit would be the turning point in the present unhappy deadlock.
9. My impression of Mr Hartling's approaches to me - he could equally well have approached our Permanent Mission in Geneva was that he wanted to get the message back to London on a personal basis that what was needed, for the resolution of the Hong Kong situation, was a quick and generous gesture by London which could be followed by other States sympathetic both to the plight of those awaiting resettlement and to the High Commissioner's genuine motivation in seeking a humanitarian solution to a difficult problem. He appears to have obtained some commitment, which he cannot obviously set before us, that the gesture will be reciprocated.
Group A
B1 Division
R. A. MCDOWALL
3 June 1985
(Home Office)
HKK 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JUN 1985
DESK CERE FR
INDEX
REGISTAY
1.
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