GRS 200
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 090346Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
裘
9 JUL 1976
[DKK 248/SW
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ph.
TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NO 694 OF 9 JULY INFO PRIORITY RANGOON, TOKYO, ROUTINE PEKING, HANOI AND VIENTIANE (PLEASE PASS CONFIRMATION COPY SAVING HANOI).
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 693 AND RANGOON TELEGRAM NO TO` HONG KONG: THE 'AVA' CASE.
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IT IS CLEARLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM WHILE THEIR SHIP IS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. IT OCCURS TO US THAT ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION MIGHT LIE IN GETTING THE CO-OPERATION OF ICEM TO FLY THE WHOLE GROUP FROM HONG KONG TO RANGOON. IT WOULD THEN BE UP TO THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE THE ONWARD MOVEMENT OF SOME OR ALL OR TO DETERMINE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY MIGHT BE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN BURMA.
2. IF YOU AGREE THAT THIS IS AN AVENUE WORTH EXPLORING, WE COULD CONTACT LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES OF ICE M. PERHAPS YOU COULD INSTRUCT H.M. AMBASSADOR RANGOON TO BORACH THE SUBJECT WITH BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTRY? KEY CONDITION WOULD BE WILLINGNESS OF BURMESE GOVERNMENT TO ADMIT THE GROUP. THERE IS NO QUESTION, HOWEVER, OF THE GROUP BEING ALLOWED TO LAND IN HONG KONG WHILE THE MATTER IS HAMMERED OUT. AN ACCEPTABLE ASSURANCE ABOUT THE ONWARD PASSAGE OF THE REFUGEES (1.E. THAT THEY WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARILY TRANSITTING HONG KONG) IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
ROBERTS
FILES HKD (3) SEAD SAD
MR CORTAZZI MR MALE
[ REPETITION TO HANOI REFERRED FOR
DEPARTMENTAL DECISION]
CONFIDENTIAL