GPS 235,
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
So
(10)
. HONG KONG 0309012
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.17 OF 3 JANUARY,
HRM 243 RECEIVED IN BATAY NO.
4 JAN 1979
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
51
RESTRY
#ction on
4/1 as
MY TELNO.7 : ''HUEY FONG # PUBLICITY FOR HONG KONG'S POLICY.
1. WE ARE DOING ALL POSSIBLE TO PUBLICISE THE PRINCIPLES
UNDERLYING OUR APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM AND OUR PROVISION, OF SUPPLIES AND MEDICAL CARE. HOWEVER, INTERNATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE TENDS INEVITABLY TO CONCENTRATE ON HUMAN INTEREST ASPECTS E.G. ONE DEATH ABOARD THE VESSEL YESTERDAY (SEE REFTEL).
GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD THEREFORE CONSIDER ISSUING GUIDANCE TO POSTS ON OUR POLICY TOWARDS BOAT REFUGEES IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE ''HUEY FONG'' PROBLEM.
2. MIFT CONTAINS SUGGESTED GUIDANCE MATERIAL. PARAS. 1 TO 7 ARE
UNCLASSIFIED: PARA.8 IS RESTRICTED. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF FURTHER
MATERIAL WOULD BE USEFUL. HOWEVER, WE WOULD PREFER TO DEAL SEPARATELY WITH ANY DIFFICULTIES WHICH INDIVIDUAL POSTS ENCOUNTER
IN EXPLAINING OUR POSITION,
:
!
3. WE ARE GIVING REGULAR AND DETAILED BRIEFINGS TO OFFICIAL
REPRESENTATIVES HERE OF THE U.S, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE, CANADA AND THE F.R.G. WE ARE ALSO BRIEFING OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CONSULAR
CORPS AS APPROPRIATE. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD NO CRITICISM OF THE
LINE WE ARE TAKING: U.S AND F.R.G UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT HAS
BEEN PARTICULARLY HELPFUL.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
HK & GD
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD
EID (E)
MR CORTAZZI
PUSD
MR WEIR
01D
IFD
MR MURRAY
NEWS D MVD
2
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
MR BIRT
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
CONFIDENTIAL
19
}