CYPR CAT A
PRIORITY
FM FCO 141330Z
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243/1
243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY MO. 51 17 JUL 1973
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK OF IGER
PA
REGISTRY Action Teen
INDEX
Ne
ear FA 243/1
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 546 OF 14 JULY
INFO HANOI UKMIS GENEVA WASHINGTON KUALA LUMPUR PEKING
YOURTELNO 873; REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
PA
115
1. THERE IS WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY HERE FOR THE PLIGHT OF QUOTE BOAT PEOPLE UNQUOTE WHO PREFER TO RISK ESCAPE BY SEA, RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO FACE LIFE IN VIETNAM. MINISTERS HAVE ALLUDED TO THEM IN PARLIAMENT. WE COULD NOT CONTEMPLATE AN APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AIMED AT GETTING THEIR GOVERNMENT TO RESTRICT THE FLOW OF REFUGEES, ALTHOUGH WE RECOGNISE THAT SOME REFUGEES MAY COME TO GRIEF IN THEIR SEARCH FOR A FREER LIFE,
2. NONETHELESS WE DO NOT OVERLOOK THE HEAVY BURDEN WHICH THE PRESENT SITUATION PLACES ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND WE CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GOODWILL SHOWN BY HONG KONG IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. WE SHALL CONTINE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, TO SECURE THE RELOCATION OF REFUGEES AWAY FROM HONG KONG, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
OWEN
FILES SEAD
UND
HK 9 GD FED MVD
NEWS D
PS.
PS / LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
pe Pus
SIR A DUFF MR CORTAX-7-1. MR MURRAY MR WEIR
CONFIDENTIAL