TNAG-1534-FCO40-2098-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 157

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9

41965 1

OCMIAN 1965

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RR GEMIS

FM FCOLN TO GEMIS

0623192 JUN

GRS 200

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FM FCO

TO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA

TELNO 214

NO DISTRIBUTION

ним 24318

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 9 JUN 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

R:

RY

PA

Acuon Taken

OF 162319Z JUNE 86

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF HKD WAS SENT

TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 947 OF 21/5/86

YOUR TELNO 1357 (BEING REPEATED TO WASHINGTON): VIETNAMESE

REFUGEES

1. WE TOO ARE CONCERNED AT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG AND FOR

THE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME AS A WHOLE OF ANY DECREASE IN THE

VOLUME OF RESETTLEMENT TO THE US AS FORESHADOWED IN PARAS 9 AND 10

OF TUR. WE SHOULD BEGIN NOW TO URGE THE US TO AT LEAST MAINTAIN THE

PRESENT MOMENTUM BY AMENDING THEIR CRITERIA, OR (IF THIS IS RFELEVA-

NT) BY DIVERTING UNUSED SLOTS FROM OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM.

2. WE HAVE IT IN MIND THAT NASH (SEAD) COULD SPEAK TO NEIGHBOUR (US)

EMBASSY) AGAIN, DRAWING UPON ANY IDEAS YOU OR WASHINGTON MAY HAVE AS

TO HOW THE US MIGHT MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT LEVEL OF RESETTLEMENT FROM

HONG KONG. TO AVOID ANY DANGEROUS HICCUPS IN THE NUMBER OF MONTHLY

DEPARTURES FOR THE US, WE SHOULD LIKE TO DO THIS SOON. YOU AND

WASHINGTON MAY ALSO, OF COURSE, WISH TO TACKLE THE AMERICANS

LOCALLY.

3. GRATEFUL YOUR VIEWS ON WHAT POINTS MIGHT BE PUT TO THE

AMERICANS.

1

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