GPS 140
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
RECEIVED. REGISTRY No. 50
20 MAY 1975
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
REF.
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NEXT REF.
OPCY
NICK NUKK 18/25
112
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FM CANBERRA 198450Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TEL NO 443 OF 19 MAY INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND SAVING TO SINGAPORE, WELLINGTON, WASHINGTON AND PEKING. MY TEL NO 439: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
1. FIRST ASSISTANT SECRETARY, DFA, SUMMONED HEAD OF CHANCERY TODAY TO CONVEY MESSAGE FROM MR WHITLAM THAT BEFORE MATTER WAS CONSIDERED
FURTHER, MR WHITLAM WOULD LIKE TO KNOW-
(A) WHETHER BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD ASKED NEW GOVERNMENT IN SAIGON
IF VIETNAMESE IN HONG KONG COULD RETURN TO VIETNAM WITH A GUAR-
ANTEE OF SAFETY: AND
(B) WHETHER HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAD ASCERTAINED HOW MANY REFUGEES
MIGHT WISH TO RETURN TO VIETNAM IF SUCH GUARANTEE OF SAFETY WERE
AVAILABLE.
2. BARDER UNDERTOOK TO REPORT QUESTIONS AND SEEK EARLY REPLIES.
FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING TO WASHINGTON AND PEKING.
JAMES
FILES
HKIOD
NAM D
SE ASIA D
SWPD
MVD
WED
DEFENCE DEPT NEWS DEPT UND CONSULAR DEPT
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
CONS EM UNIT
PS
COPIES TO:
MR BLANKS DS11 MOD
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/MR ENNALS
PS/MISS LESTOR
PS/MR HATTERSLEY PS/PUS
MR WILFORD MR MALE
MR EDMONDS
SIR D WATSON MR LARMOUR MR HAWLEY
MR FITZGERALD HOME OFFICE
MR R MACDOWALL HOME OFFICE
MR WATTS COMMUNITY
PROGRAMME OFFICE,
HOME OFFICE
MR KIDD, HONG KONG GOVT
OFFICE
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET)
CONFIDENTIAL
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B
1676