i
RESTRICTED
OFFER TO ACCEPT THEM AS SOON AS ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR THEIR RECEPTION. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO LAND IN HONG KONG (IF THEY COME HERE) ONLY WHILE TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THEIR ONWARD TRAVEL TO THE U.S. AND U.K. WE HOPE THIS COULD BE DONE WITHIN FOUR DAYS (AS IN
THE RECENT PARALLEL CASE OF REFUGEES ABOARD A NORWEGIAN TANKER). IF YOU CAN ACCEPT THAT DEADLINE WE WOULD ASK THE AMERICANS TO COMPLETE THEIR TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS IN FOUR DAYS ALSO.
3. WE REMAIN CONVINCED THAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS FOR ALL THE REFUGEES TO BE LANDED IN BANGKOK, IN VIEW OF YOUR GENEROUS GUARANTEE, WE WOULD HOPE THAT BOTH THE AMERICANS AND UNHCR CAN BE PERSUADED TO SUPPORT THE EMBASSY'S REPRESENTATIONS TO THE
THAIS. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE AMERICANS CAN SURELY BE PERSUADED THAT IT WOULD BE MOST UNFORTUNATE TO BREAK THE FIRST PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE SIMPLY FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE OF
PROCESSING IN HONG KONG.
MACLEHOSE
►
FILES
UND
SEAD
M & VD
HK & GD
MR.WEIR
MR.FIGG
MR.MURRAY
COPIES TO:
MR.C.BIRT,
IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY DEPT.,
HOME OFFICE, CROYDON.
2
RESTRICTED