GRPS 200
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM UKMIS GENEVA 101050Z
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F
521
12 MAY 1975
56
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TO IMMEDIATE FCOTELNO. 336 OF 10 MAY INFO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN SINGAPORE.
1. UNHCR APPROACHED US URGENTLY THIS MORNING TO RECORD THEIR ANXIETY OVER THE SITUATION OF SOME 7,500 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES SAID TO BE ABOARD 46 VESSELS NOW IN SINGAPORE HARBOUR. KADRY, SENT BY HCR TO DISCUSS SITUATION WITH SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES HAD REPORTED THAT HE HAD SO FAR BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE EFFECTIVE CONTACT WITH THEM AND BELIEVED THAT VESSELS AND REFUGEES WOULD BE ORDERED TO LEAVE WITHIN NEXT FEW HOURS. HCR WERE TRYING BY ALL AVAILABLE MEANS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH SINGAPORE REPRESENTATIVES IN GENEVA AND ELSEWHERE, BUT WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING UK MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO AT LEAST TO BRING ABOUT CONTACT BETWEEN KADRY AND SINGAPORE
AUTHORITIES.
2. WE AGREED TO REPORT THIS REQUEST TO YOU BUT DOUBTED WHETHER THERE WAS ANYTHING WE (UK) COULD USEFULLY DO, ESPECIALLY SINCE APPROACHES BY A THIRD PARTY MUST RUN RISK OF BEING COUNTER-
PRODUCTIVE. HCR UNDERSTAND OF COURSE THAT OUR MAIN PREOCCUPATION IS WITH OUR OWN PROBLEMS WITH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, ANY DETAILS OF DIMENSIONS OF WHICH THEY WOULD BE
GRATEFUL TO HAVE.
HILDYARD
PS/MR ENNALS PS/MISS LESTOR PS/MR MATTERSLEY MR WILFORD MR MALE
FILES
SEAD
DEFENCE D
SWPD
NAM D
FED
GIPD
NEWS D
FRD HKIOD UND
MR LARMOUR
MR HAWLEY
SIR J KILLICK
M & V D
PS
MR EDMONDS
SIR D WATSON
COPIES TO:
MR E BARNES
DISASTER UNIT
MR DS FOSTER FED
DS 11 )
DOC >
MOD
WIT ODM TRODM
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
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