CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY
GPS 325A
'
REGISTRY NJ.52 16 MAY 1975
LAST
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CYPHER CAT A
61)
FM COPENHAGEN 151645Z
NKK 18/25
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CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO.154 OF 15 MAY, 1975 INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG INFO WASHINGTON AND STOCKHOLM AND SAVING PARIS, OTTAWA, CANBERRA AND WELLINGTON.
YOUR TELNO 382 TO CANBERRA:
VIE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1. HEAD OF CHANCERY TOOK ACTION THIS AFTERNOON WITH HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. LORENZ PETERSEN HAD ALREADY RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S
BRIEFING REFERRED TO IN HONG KONG TELNO 1 TO COPENHAGEN.
2.
LORENZ PETERSEN SAID THAT THE DANISH GOVERNMENT HAD NOT YET
DECIDED WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HE WOULD BE PUTTING UP A SUBMISSION ON 16 MAY BUT MINISTERS WERE UNLIKELY TO CONSIDER
IT BEFORE 20 MAY (19 MAY IS A HOLIDAY HERE). HE THOUGHT IT PROBABLE THAT SOME REFUGEES WOULD BE ACCEPTED. BUT MINISTERS WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO KEEP THE NUMBERS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. (THEY HAD ALREADY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO SEND BACK THE
204 VIETNAMESE CHILDREN AND 14 ADULTS WHO HAD ARRIVED EARLIER).
IT
3. LORENZ PETERSEN SAID THAT THE DANES HAD ALSO RECEIVED AN
APPROACH FROM THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES AND IN THIS
CONNEXION REFERRED TO DISCUSSION AT THE POLITICAL DIRECTORS'
MEETING IN DUBLIN ON 13 AND 14 MAY AT WHICH AGREEMENT WAS
APPARENTLY REACHED TO TREAT SUCH REQUESTS SYMPATHETICALLY.
WOULD BE MUCH EASIER FOR THE DANES TO RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST IF
THEY COULD DO SO UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
REFUGEES. COULD WE CONFIRM THAT THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S APPROACH
HAD IN FACT COVERED THE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG? AFTER CHECKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT (TELECON MCLAREN/TIMMS) HEAD OF CHANCERY SAID THAT IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE REFUGEES ON WHOSE
BEHALF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER HAD MADE APPROACHES INCLUDED THOSE
IN HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
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