23
GR 150A
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM FCO 09175OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 538 OF 9 JULY
201
INFO PRIORITY RANGOON TOKYO ROUTINE PEKING HANOI
HONG KONG TELNO 694 AND RANGOON TELNO 104: THE 'AVA' CASE
1. IN VIEW OF THE PROBABILITY THAT BURMESE ARE UNLIKELY TO AGREE TO ADMIT REFUGEES FLOWN BY ICEM FROM HONG KONG, WE SEE NO ALTERNATIVE
TO SITTING TIGHT, STICKING TO YOUR LINE THAT HONG KONG CANNOT ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE REFUGEES AND THAT THIS THEREFORE LIES WITH
THE MASTER OF 'AVA'.
2. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE FLOAT THE ICEM AIRLIFT IDEA WITH THE BURMESE CONSUL GENERAL, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR HIM TO TAKE UP WITH HIS OWN GOVERNMENT. FROM
RANGOON TELNO 104 IT SEEMS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE THAT THIS WILL LEAD
ANYWHERE: BUT IT MAY BE HELPFUL LATER IF WE CAN SAY THAT THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO CO-OPERATE WITH ICEM AND THE
BURMESE IN SEEKING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
CROSLAND
FILES
HKD
SEAD. SA-D MLCORTAZ21
HRMALE
CONFIDENTIAL