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026654 MDHIAN 8271,
OTHERS:
16
3. THE LETTER IS CORRECT IN SAYING THAT IN RECENT MONTHS IT IS ONLY THE U.S. WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO TAKE PEOPLE. HOWEVER THE FLOW OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS HAS THINNED TO A TRICKLE. WE ARE NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES IN MOVING PEOPLE ON, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FACT WE ONLY HAVE ONE CANDIDATE PENDING RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE. THERE IS CERTAINLY NO NEED AT THE MOMENT FOR US TO REACTIVATE OTHER COUNTIES TO MAKE RENEWED EFFORTS.
YOU WILL BE AWARE OF THE BACKGROUND TO THE TANG RI-MEI CASE (MY TELNO 550). SHE DOES NOT/NOT HAVE A VALID CASE FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM. THIS MAY EXPLAIN WHY SHE IS HAVING DIFFICULTY GOING ELSEWHERE (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO INFORMATION THAT THIS IS SO).
5.
IN REPLYING TO THE LETTER, WE SUGGEST THAT EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT EG. PHILIP BAKER IS A RELIABLE AND SENSIBLE INTERLOCUTOR. WE HAVE NEVER PUBLICLY GIVEN ANY CONFIRMATION THAT ASYLUM SEEKERS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO STAY IN HONG KONG, AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MATTER. SO FAR WE HAVE RECEIVED REMARKABLE CO-OPERATION FROM THE PRESS (SOME OF WHOM HAVE KNOWN A GOOD DEAL). BY AND LARGE THEY HAVE APPRECIATED THAT ANY PUBLICITY WOULD MAKE IT POLITICALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO CONTINUE HELPING THOSE I NEED, AND HAVE NOT PURSUED WHAT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN A GOOD STORY. ANY LETTER FROM NUMBER 10 WHICH GAVE MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON THE MATTER THAN WE HAVE DONE WOULD RISK OPENING UP A DISCUSSION WHICH WE HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PREVENT.
6.
WE THEREFORE SUGGEST A DRAFT REPLY ALONG THE LINES OF THE TEXT IN MIFT. IT IS DRAFTED AS THOUGH FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, BUT YOU MAY FEEL IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR IT TO GO FROM A PRIVATE SECRETARY.
7.
WE HAVE FEW COMMENTS ON THE MEMORANDUM, MOST OF WHICH IS NOT FOR US TO ANSWER. THE TWO HONG KONG CASES (LI LONQQING AND LI PEICHENG) REMAIN, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IN PRISON IN GUANGDONG (WE THINK IN HUAI JI). WE ASSUME YOU HAVE AMPLE MATERIAL TO REPLY ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG UNDER THE JD.
8.
THE SPECIFIC POINTS ON RTHK AND THE CFA REVEAL OBVIOUS MISUNDERSTANDINGS WHICH NEED CORRECTING. THE CORPORATISATION OF RTHK IS AIMED AT GREATER EFFICIENCY, COST EFFECTIVENESS AND CREATIVITY IN THAT ORGANISATION: RTHK ALREADY ENJOYS EDITORIAL
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