TNAG-1426-FCO40-1909-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 99

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Miss Vercoe, Information Department

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2 5 JUN 1985

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REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA: DRAFT BACKGROUND BRIEF

Further to Mr Nash's minute of 11 June and Mr Cole's of 12 June, I enclose a redraft of those parts of the paper that relate to the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. I have taken the liberty of

of having those parts of the draft retyped, for the sake of clarity.

1.

2.

During a discussion on other matters s ome days ago, Mr Adams of UKMIS

UKMIS Geneva mentioned to me his concern that the paper should not appear to raise strong doubts about the refugee status of arrivals in Hong Kong from Vietnam, since this would make more difficult our task of persuading others to take more from Hong Kong: especially if we are successful in obtaining a more forthcoming Home Office policy in the light of the SCORRI report. With this in mind I have toned down this section, and moved it away from the conclusion.

3. Mr Adams also asked if he could have a further opportunity to

comment on a finalised draft. I promised that I would pass this request on to you.

CODE 18-77

AWO Ltd. 7/84

25 June 1985

E Leeks

Hong Kong Department

) with enclosure

CC: Mr Nash, SEAD

Mr Cole, UND

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Mr Reddicliffe, RD )

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