IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
GRPS 200
FM FCO 141715Z
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RESIVED IN
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15 JUL:976
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NXK 243/5V/8
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA TELEGRAM NUMBER 134 OF 14 JULY AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG PRIORITY RANGOON PEKING ROUTINE
HANOI
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
(35
3
1. REUTER HAVE REPORTED FROM GENEVA THAT THE UN HER HAS ASKED BRITAIN TO ALLOW 99 SHIP-BORNE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO ENTER HONG KONG WHILE THEY AWAIT RESETTLEMENT. THE REPORT STATES THAT HONG KONG HAS REFUSED TO ADMIT THE REFUGEES AND THAT THE COMMISSIONER WANTED TO GAIN TEMPORARY ENTRY INTO HONG KONG FOR THE VIETNAMESE INCLUDING A NEW-BORN BABY WHILE HIS OFFICE AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS APPROACH VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS TO RESETTLE THEM.
2. NEWS DEPARTMENT ARE TAKING THE LINE THAT:-
(A) WE CONSIDER THAT THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON THE SHIP ARE A BURMESE RESPONSIBILITY
(B) THE SHIP HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO DOCK BRIEFLY IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO PICK UP SUPPLIES. THE MOTHER THE NEW-BORN BABY AND ANOTHER
WOMAN WITH AN INJURED FOOT WERE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK AND ARE BEING CARED FOR BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES:
(C) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG TO AIR-LIFT THE REFUGEES TO BURMA.
3. UNATTRIBUTABLY WE ARE DRAWING ATTENTION TO HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS AND MAKING THE POINT THAT THESE 99 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES CANNOT BE CONSIDERED IN ISOLATION
CROSLAND
FILES
HKD (3) SEAD
SAD
NEWS D
FED
UND
MR CORTAZZI
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
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