CONFIDENTIAL
GR 235
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 171208Z
FM HONG KONG 171146Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.121 OF 17 JANUARY,
135
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, OFFICE LONDON.
HAKK 243/!..
No
(147)
PA
187, f
RY
YOUR TELNO.53 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1. WE AGREE THAT APPROACHES SHOULD BE MADE TO ALL THE COUNTRIES
IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 1. WE SUGGEST YOU ADD:
(A)
CANADA AND THE FRG, WITH APPROPRIATE REMARKS ON THE
CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE:
(B) BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA, EMPHASISING THE ADAPTABILITY AND
RESOURCEFULNESS OF MANY OF THE REFUGEES: AND
(C)
JAPAN, WHOSE RECORD ON REFUGEES SO FAR IS DEPLORABLE, BUT WHO MIGHT BE SHAMED INNTO PROVIDING MORE CONSCIENCE-MONEY FOR
THE UNHCR.
2. WE WILL MAKE PARALLEL APPROACHES HERE TO LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED.
3. WE AGREE ABOUT TIMING. YOU WILL KNOW FROM MY TELNO.109 THAT
PRECISE TIMING OF THE FINAL SCENE WILL BE LARGELY IN THE HAND OF
THE MASTER OF THE HUEY FONG. WE HOPE THAT APPROACHES IN CAPITALS CAN BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER HE HAS MOVED ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
IF HE COMES INTO HONG KONG IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE
TO SAY LOCALLY THAT H.M.G, AND WE HERE, HAVE MADE A MAJOR APPEAL
FOR MORE RESETTLEMENT.
*
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CONFIDENTIAL