RESTRICTED
3. OUR ONLY ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO REFUSE PERMISSION FOR ANY
OF THE REFUGEES TO LAND ON THE GROUNDS THAT HONG KONG IS NOT THE
FIRST PORT OF CALL, WE WOULD BE JUSTIFIED IN DOING THIS (AND
CAUSING DIFFICULTIES FOR THE SHIP'S ONWARD MOVEMENT) IN LIGHT
OF THE CAPTAIN'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW TIME FOR YOUR GUARANTEE TO
BE PUT TO THE THAIS. HOWEVER WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MUCH
BETTER ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS TO ACT AS IN PARA 2. PENDING YOUR REPLY WE PROPOSE TO ALLOW THE SHIP TO DOCK BUT NOT TO ALLOW
ANY OF THE REFUGEES ASHORE.
4. A FURTHER 100 SMALL BOAT REFUGEES ARRIVED ON 6 AND 7 MAY
AND WILL BE PROCESSED IN THE NORMAL WAY. THE CONTINUING PRESSURE
ON RESOURCES HERE FROM REFUGEES FOR WHOM HONG KONG IS THE FIRST
PORT OF CALL REINFORCES THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EXCEPTIONS TO
OUR GENERAL RULE ARE LIMITED TO CASES IN WHICH RAPID ONWARD
MOVEMENT IS GUARANTEED.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
UND
HKGD
SEAD
MVD
NEWS D
PS/MR.LUARD
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
MR.WEIR
MR.MURRAY MR.FIGG
2 - RESTRICTED
COPIES TO:
MR.C.BIRT, HOME OFFICE,
1
CROYDON.