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TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELNO 389 OF 23 MAY 1977,
INFO UKMIS GENEVA.
OUR TELNO 118 TO BANGKOK: SMALL BOAT REFUGEES.
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1. FROM OUR QUO TA OF 116, 21 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED HERE. HOME OFFICE ARE CONSIDERING A FURTHER 69 APPLICATIONS, LODGED THROUGH UNHCR, FROM SMALL BOAT REFUGEES PRESENTLY IN BANGKOK AND SINGAPORE. WE ALSO RECENTLY AGREED TO TAKE A MODEST NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FROM REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON TWO SHIPS IN MALAYSIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS AND ON WHOSE BEHALF THE UN DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER MADE A SPECIAL PLEA.
FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, MOST OF THE APPLICATIONS IN THE PIPELINE ARE LIKELY TO BE APPROVED IN DUE COURSE.
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3. AS YOU KNOW, OUR INTENTION WAS TO HOLD SOME PLACES IN RESERVE AS A CONTINGENCY AGAINST FURTHER ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG. WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY FURTHER APPLICATIONS WE SHALL RECEIVE FROM REFUGEES ON BOARD THE TWO SHIPS IN MALAYSIAN WATERS BUT OUR QUOTA IS LIKELY TO FILL UP FAIRLY QUICKLY. WE ARE THEREFORE FACED WITH THE URGENT NEED FOR RESETTLEMENT PLACES FOR SMALL BOAT REFUGEES WHO ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF SOUTH EAST ASIA AND WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POLITICAL AND HUMANITARIAN INTEREST HERE. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY HOLDING PLACES IN RESERVE
FOR HONG KONG.
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4. UNLESS YOU HAVE STRONG OBJECTIONS, WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO CONTINUE HOLDING PLACES SPECIFICALLY FOR HONG KONG,
OWEN
FILES
UND
HK 9 Q) MIA
SEAD MR NERP
COPIES TO
MR WHITE
HOME OFFICE
MR CORTA Z2/
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