CONFIDENTIAL
British Embassy
No 1 Ichiban-Cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Telex J22755 (A/B PRODROME) Telephone 265-5511
AKK 5/8 243/332/1 HO. ST
RASIVA
& NOV 1977
INDEX
PA
3.RY
CDS Drace-Francis Esq Assistant Political Adviser
HONG KONG
Your reference
Our reference
Date
28 October 1977
Dear Chunks,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. In an
attempt to clear up the misunderstanding which seems to have arisen over the question of guarantees, we have been over the ground again in detail with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Japanese still firmly maintain, however, that their Consulate-General was given to understand on 13 October that they were being asked for a guarantee of final responsibility and that they were still under this impression when they presented a Note Verbale on 14 October offering such a guarantee. that their offer was then confirmed by a second Note Verbale on
They say 19 October. We explained again, in the light of your telegram number 56 of 24 October, how things had developed but I am afraid that the Japanese were not to be dislodged from their view, which they sought to corroborate by reading us their telegrams.
2. I do not think that either we or the Japanese want to make too much of this. The main point is that the Japanese fully appreciate Hong Kong's action in agreeing to accept the refugees. We do not want to diminish the credit we have earned by prolonging a somewhat barren discussion about the mechanics of the decision. I think that all we can do now is to make it clear to the Japanese that, irrespective of how a misunderstanding arose in this case, the Hong Kong Government still adheres firmly to the principle of not seeking undertakings from third countries.
cc:
You are,
Nick Runkly
JNT Spreckley
Hong Kong & General Dept., FCO<←
SEAD, FCO
FED, FCO