GRS170A
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
LA&T
f
NEXT REP.
FM WASHINGTON 011612Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED, IN REGISTRY No. 53
2 MAY 1975
NXK18/25
16
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 30 OF 1 MAY, 1975,
INFO PRIORITY F C O BANGKOK PEKING.
YOUR TELNO 421 TO F C 0: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1. THE US INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR SOUTH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
HAVE RECEIVED A TELEGRAM FROM THE US CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG
KONG INFORMING THEM THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ARE INSIST-
ING THAT THE TWO GROUPS OF REFUGEES LEAVE THE COLONY "'WITHIN 24
HOURS''
2. WISNER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE TASK FORCE, HAS ASSURED US THAT THE US WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE
REFUGEES, AND ARRANGE FOR THEIR ONWARD TRAVEL, AS SOON AS THE ASIAN REPRESENTATIVE OF ICEM HAS INVESTIGATED THEIR POSITION
AND REPORTED ON THIS TO THE US CONSULATE-GENERAL. THIS MAY, HOWEVER, TAKE 2/3 DAYS. WISNER HAS THEREFORE ASKED IF THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT COULD GRANT THE REFUGEES PERMISSION TO STAY FOR A
FURTHER 72 HOURS UNTIL THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN
COMPLETED.
3. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF US/UK RELATIONS IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
IF THIS REQUEST COULD BE MET.
RAMSBOTHAM
FILES
HKIOD (4)
COPIES TO:
MR WILFORD
MR BLANKS DS11 MOD
SEAD
FED
NAM D
NEWS D
CONSULAR D
CONS EMERG UNIT
M & V D
DEFENCE D
PS
MR MALE
MR LARMOUR
MR HAWLEY
PS/MR ENNALS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/MR HATTERSLEY
PS/MISS LESTOR
PS/PUS
SIR D WATSON
CONFIDENTIAL