GR 160
IHNGSIATE
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
НКК 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 4 OCT 1978
237
EM TOKYO 2397307
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK OFFICER
PA.
REAL RY Action Ton
INDEX
No
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 709 OF 23 OCTOBER, 1978
RPTD PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HONGKONG AND ROUTINE PANAMA
(231
OUR TELNO 698 OF 20 OCTOBER
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:
MARITIME WINNER
1. THE MFA TOLD US THIS MORNING THAT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAD DECIDED TO ALLOW THE MARITIME WINNER REFUGEES TO LAND WITHOUT
A THIRD VNUNTRY GUARANTEE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WELCOME DECISION IS THE FIRST CASE IN WHICH THE JAPANESE HAVE AGREED TO WAIVE THE GUARANTEE REQUIREMENT AND AS SUCH ESTABLISHES AN
IMPORTANT PRECEDENT.
2.
THE COMPARATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF REFUGEES INVOLVED ON THIS
OCCASIONA DN THE FACT THAT MOST OF THEM HAD RELATIVES ABROAD,
MAY HAVE BEEN ONE CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR. WE RECEBZED THE STRONG IMPRESSION HOWEVER THAT, WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FROMIBUR SIDE:
THE MFA HAD SEIZED ON
SEIZED ON THIS INCIDENT, COMING AS IT DID SO SOON AFTER THE FORT KIPP CASE, AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW THEIR PRESSURE ON THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. WE HOPE THAT OUR REPRESENT- ATIONS LAST WEEK IN THE FORT KIPP CASE MAY THUS HAVE HELPED TO
TIP THE SCALES,
WILFORD
FILES
UND
FED
SEAD
HK & G D
MVD NEWS. D
PS/ LOAD GORONWY ROBERTS PS/MA LUARD
NA CORTAZZI MR WEIR
HR STRATTON
Copies TO:
NR & BIRT. Home Office
LUNAR HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL