TNAG-2323-FCO40-3367-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-Vietnamese-boat-people-1991 — Page 43

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obliged to seek the consent of all other parties or at least to secure their acquiescence. It is not thought that this would be attainable.

12. Finally, I have been asked by my administrators to emphasize the difficult practical problems facing the Hong Kong Government. One of these is that deportation of these refugees is not a possible course, for humanitarian

reasons,

PS

Your sincerely,

Fred

F Burrows Legal Counsellor

While this letter was being typed I was informed that the Secretary of State has now approved the. submission made to him by the Minister of State.

See (13

CONFIDENTIAL