GPS 170
RESTRICTED
FM OTTAWA 172205Z JAN 79
TELEGRAM NUMBER 37 OF 17 JANUARY
TO PRIORITY FCO
JANU
31
YOUR
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
"
243/1
HKK 243
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.1
19 JAN 1979
DESK OF CER
INDEX
PA
No
Mali CLE
YOUR TELNO GUIDANCE 1: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OFF HONG KONG.
154
1. MR CULLEN, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION, ANNOUNCED
YESTERDAY THAT CANADA WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE FROM 300-400
REFUGEES FROM LAND CAMPS IN HONG KONG ON CONDITION THAT
REFUGEES FROM THE QUOTE HUEY FONG UNQUOTE ARE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK.
THE CANADIAN INITIATIVE IS A HUMANITARIAN GESTURE DESIGNED TO
OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE PRESENT DEADLOCK WITHOUT ENABLING THE
QUOTE HUEY FONG UNQUOTE REFUGEES TO QUEUE-JUMP.
2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT MR CULLEN IS GENUINELY EXERCISED BY THE
APPARENT INACTIVITY OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES AND
HOPES THE CANADIAN OFFER WILL BE MATCHED BY OTHERS SO AS TO ENABLE
ALL THE REFUGEES ON THE QUOTE HUEY FONG UNQUOTE TO BE
DISEMBARKED. THE NUMBERS TAKEN BY CANADA WOULD COUNT
AGAINST THE EXISTING QUOTE OF 5,000 PA.
3. THE DEA HAVE TOLD US THAT A FORMAL APPROACH WILL BE MADE TO THE-
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHORTLY.
FORD
FILES UND
COPIES TO
PS
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
HX & GD
SEAD
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
FED
PS/PUS
SAD
SIR A DUFF
MR BIRT
EID (E)
MR CORTAZZI
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
FUSD
MR WEIR
OID
MR MURRAY
IPD
NEWS D
MVD
NAD
RESTRICTED.