CODE 18-77
Mr McLaren HK & GD
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Reference
HKK 243/1
INDEX
8 SEP 1978
No 1x16
RY
on Tran
!.172
771
cleared
1. Your minute of 6 September and Washington telno I had prepared a telegram to Washington (which I had with Nh America and your department) seeking a compromise solution to this problem. Before its despatch, however, Mr Orr telephoned from Hong Kong to say that the American Consul General there had made further representations to the Chief Secretary and that, as a result, Hong Kong had reluctantly agreed to accept an American assurance that the refugees would be removed from Hong Kong within one month.
2. For the record, you will wish to know that I told Mr Orr we were prepared to seek from the Americans an assurance that they would remove the group within a much shorter time. However, we were grateful for Hong Kong's significant gesture in this case. Mr Orr hoped that this would now create an even greater fund of goodwill which would perhaps encourage the Americans to be even more helpful over Hong Kong's special problem.
3.
You may care to inform Mr McKinley of the American Embassy of the latest position.
7 September 1978
Araqu а
P Morgan
UND K149 233 8631
cc SEAD
Mr Stagg
I spoke to
and
Mr
McKailey accordingly
asked whether
WC
hat
Government
m
the
matter
exerted
Said
That
necessary
The Hong Kong Government
had
Девы
made
ий
London
and
Washington,
CA
well
as
Не
pressur
expressed
но
the
appreciation Hong Kong
pressure
aware
Hong Kong
had been
The representations
Bul
had
taken their own
decision
CONFIDENTIAL
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RR HONG KONG
KWANOT
PR BANGKOK
RR UKMIS GENEVA
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FM WASHINGTON 8614207
CONFIDENTIAL