282
GR 274
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 091905Z NOV 78
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG
TELNO 840 OF 9 NOVEMBER 1978
See (224
HKK 243/1
1290
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
13 NOV 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
FA
RY
Action Ten
No las CLE
INFO PRIORITY HANOI UKMIS GENEVA KUALA LUMPUR PEKING CANBERRA
AND WASHINGTON
INFO SAVING UKMIS NEW YORK
280
YOUR TELNO 1286: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
617
1. THIS NEW PHENOMENON' POSES INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS WHICH NEED TO BE CONSIDERED INTERNATIONALLY. WE HAVE NO EASY ANSWERS. WE ARE UNWILLING TO INTERVENE WITH THE VIETNAMESE TO ASK THEM TO CLAMP DOWN ON THE EXODUS, ALTHOUGH WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD (WITH THOUSANDS FLEEING THE COUNTRY EVERY MONTH AND MANY LOSING THEIR LIVES DOING SO) IS ABHORRENT TO US. THE UNHCR CONFERENCE ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES TO BE HELD IN GENEVA ON 11 AND 12 DECEMBER MAY BE A USEFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR SERIOUS DISCUSSION OF THE NEW PHENOMENON'. THE VIETNAMESE HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND,
2. MEANWHILE OUR PRACTICE, AS YOU KNOW IS, IS TO CONSIDER WHAT TO DO ABOUT EACH NEW BOATLOAD OF REFUGEES AS IT ARRIVES. WE EXPECT THE FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE TO APPLY. WE ACCEPT ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REFUGEES RESCUED BY VESSELS REGISTERED IN UK PORTS. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN US THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE ARE NEVER EXACTLY THE SAME, AND JUDGEMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE AD HOC. WE ARE FULLY CONSCIOUS OF THE PROBLEMS ALREADY EXPERIENCED BY HONG KONG IN ACCEPTING BOAT REFUGEES AND OF THE VERY GRAVE DIFFICULTIES WHICH WOULD BE.
PRESENTED BY A FURTHER MASSIVE INFLUX.
3. IF AND WHEN THE VESSEL (REFERRED TO IN PARA 1 OF TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE) ARRIVES IN HONG KONG, OF KEY IMPORTANCE WOULD 3E ITS REGISTGRATION AND OWNERSHIP AND WHETHER HONG KONG WAS IN
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