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135/C/191
Mr Malé
Mal
PS
CONFIDENTIAL
HREAD
Mi reflection
1 Mink he reply,
Shgo from the Bit.
MW B3/x
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
135
1. Number Ten have asked that the Private Office should arrange for a suitable reply to be sent to a letter from Mr J Scott Douglas in Florida, who has asked for our help over the fact that Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore have denied admission to refugees escaping by sea from Vietnam and Cambodia. (Mr Meadway's letter and enclosure of 6 August to Mr Weston.)
2. As far as Hong Kong is concerned, Mr Scott Douglas evidently has in mind the Burmese vessel "MV Ava" which arrived off Hong Kong on 7 July with 99 Vietnamese refugees on board. These refugees were eventually allowed to land on 3 August. A number of charitable organisations in the United States had previously lodged a protest with HM Embassy Washington about Hong Kong's failure to admit the refugees (Washington tels Nos 2474 and 2475) and the line that the Embassy were advised to take in reply (FCO tel No 1581 to Washington, and connected telegrams) is still relevant in dealing with Mr Scott Douglas' letter.
3. In the case of Malaysia and Singapore, we do have some figures, provided confidentially by the Office of the UK High Commissioner
* for Refugees, which show that a number of Vietnamese refugees have
arrived at ports in these countries. On some occasions such refugees appear to have been allowed to land; on others not. Malaysia has adopted a slightly more open attitude than Singapore. However, it would not be right for us to use such figures in writing to Mr Scott Douglas. Instead, I recommend that we should suggest that he pursue the matter, if he wishes, with the Malaysian and Singapore Embassies in Washington. Mr Scott Douglas is clearly a sympathetic correspondent and I have therefore drafted a rather more detailed reply than would be appropriate in other cases. UN Department agree with the reference to the UNHCR scheme.
/4.
CONFIDENTIAL