IMMEDIATE
GRS 250
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG Ø30110Z ..
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY, No. 50
5 MAY 1975
HKK18/25
JOP COPY
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TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 428 OF 3 MAY INFO IMMEDIATE COPENHAGEN AND ROYAL PARTY (FOR SIR MARTIN CHARTERIS), WASHINGTON
AND OTTAWA.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 346 OF 2 MAY.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1 MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR HELPFUL SUGGESTION TO THE SOLICITORS
FOR THE MAERSK LINE THAT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP MIGHT
BE DELAYED IF THIS WOULD NOT CAUSE UNACCEPTABLE HARDSHIP. HOWEVER, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE THE SHIP DELAYED ON THE GROUND THAT ITS ARRIVAL MIGHT CLASH WITH THAT
OF HER MAJESTY.
2. IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF ANY IMPRESSION WERE GIVEN THAT ARRANGEMENTS TO DEAL WITH THE REFUGEES WERE BEING TAILORED TO SUIT THE ROYAL VISIT. I SHALL SO INFORM THE HONG KONG AGENTS
I OF THE MAERSK SHIPPING LINE.
*
3. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE MUST ALLOW THESE REFUGEES TO LAND IN
HONG KONG AND TO REMAIN HERE UNTIL ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR
THEIR ONWARD JOURNEY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY WHICH IS WILLING TO ACCEPT
THEM.
4. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS READY TO DEAL WITH SUCH
A SITUATION. WE ARE NOT INEXPERIENCED AT DEALING WITH THIS KIND
OF PROBLEM AND I AM SURE THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT SATISFACTORILY AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE ROYAL VISIT.
15. THE RECEPTION
CONFIDENTIAL