(39)
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(B) IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD FOLLOW
UP THE UNHCR APPROACH BY ALLOWING THESE REFUGEES TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG AT LEAST UNTIL THE QUESTION OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE CAN BE CLARIFIED:
(C) THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HOPES THAT THE UNHCR WILL ''EXERT MORAL LEADERSHIP'' AND INSTRUCT HIS REPRESENTATIVES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIAN POSTS, WHERE BOATS MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE WITH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, TO URGE THE HOST GOVERNMENTS TO ALLOW SUCH REFUGEES TO LAND AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ''REASONABLE ASSISTANCE'' :
(D) THE VIETNAMESE QUOTA WAS NOT YET FILLED AND THE WAITING TIME FOR THOSE REFUGEES WHO WANTED TO APPLY FOR CONDITIONAL ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES MIGHT BE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN FOR
CHINESE APPLICANTS.
4. FOR OUR PART, WE HAVE ENSURED THAT THE UNITED STATES CONSUL- GENERAL FULLY UNDERSTANDS HONG KONG'S DIFFICULTIES, AS SET OUT IN OUR TELEGRAM NO 702 TO YOU OF 13 JULY.
5. WE NOTE FROM UKMIS GENEVA TELEGRAM NO 208 THE UNHCR'S INTERPRETATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO CONSIDER ITSELF BOUND BY THIS INTERPRETATION UNLESS OTHER MAJOR PORTS IN THE REGION FEEL EQUALLY BOUND AND WILL OFFER FIRST ASYLUM TO PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS THOSE ON THE 'AVA'. THE ACTION ALREADY TAKEN BY SINGAPORE GIVES LITTLE
COMFORT.
6. THE OWNERS OF THE 'AVA' IN RANGOON HAVE NOW INSTRUCTED THE MASTER TO SEEK PERMISSION TO ENTER HARBOUR TO LOAD AND UNLOAD CARGO AND WE PROPOSE TO PERMIT THIS. SHIP IS LIKELY TO COME IN TOMORROW, 17 JULY, AND TO TAKE 3 OR 4 DAYS TO COMPLETE CARGO WORKING. OWNERS HAVE ALSO INSTRUCTED THE MASTER AND AGENTS TO GIVE US THE NECESSARY ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL PAY FOR THE GUARDING OF THE VIETNAMESE WHILE VESSEL IS IN PORT, AND THAT WHEN SHIP LEAVES, ALL 99, LESS THOSE STILL IN HOSPITAL, WILL BE ON BOARD.
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17. JAPANESE