731
16
GPS150
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A & BY BAG
"
FROM F C O 201820Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
REG.....
21 JUL1778
=10/(213/348
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 564 OF 20 JULY
INFO PRIORITY UKMISSION GENEVA WASHINGTON TOKYO INFO ROUTINE RANGOON PEKING KUALA LUMPUR
INFO SAVING TO HANOI
THE ''AVA'
113
1. WE ARE WONDERING WHETHER ALL THE VIETNAMESE ABOARD THE ''AVA'' REGARD THEMSELVES AS REFUGEES. WE, LIKE YOU, HAVE REGARDED THEM AS REFUGEES SINCE THE SHIP'S AGENTS FIRST DESCRIBED THEM AS SUCH (YOUR TELNO 674) AND THE 39 WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR
U.S. ENTRY VISAS CLEARLY FALL INTO THE CATECORY OF REFUGEES. ARE YOU SATISFIED, HOWEVER FROM YOUR ENQUIRIES OF THE REFUGEES THEMSELVES THAT ALL OF THE REMAINDER DO WISH TO BE RESETTLED.
ELSEWHERE? WE HAVE NOTED, IN THIS CONNECTION, THAT 7 OR 8 OF THE REFUGEES ON THE 'CLARA MAERSK WHO STAYED IN HONG KONG NOW WISH TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN VIETNAM (PARAGRAPH 5 OF DRACE-FRANCIS'S LETTER OF 8 JUNE TO HM AMBASSADOR, HANOI). IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THOSE ABOARD THE 'AVA'' WHO
HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR ENTRY TO THE UNITED STATES MIGHT NOW PREFER TO RETURN TO VIENNAM? GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OBSERVATIONS
ON THIS POINT.
CROSLAND
FILES: HKD (4)
SEAD
UND
FED
NEWS D N AM D
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS MR CORTAZZI
MR LARMOUR
COPIES TO
MR KIDD HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
MR MCDOWELL HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE
MR RUSHFORD (LEGAL ADVISER)
CONFIDENTIAL