CONFIDENTIAL
GRS 275
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 15233OZ
FM FCO 15190OZ JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 49 OF 15 JANUARY
FROM MCLAREN.
MKCK 243/1
RESIVED
N12
OFFICER
TOP COPY
HP Y
Sas
lea
123
YOUR TELNO 106: HUEY FONG.
1. JACK ASHLEY MP HAS WRITTEN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ASKING
HIM TO INTERVENE WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE
HUEY FONG REFUGEES IMMEDIATELY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS QUOTE BECAUSE
THEIR CONDITION IS DETERIORATING AND NO CIVILISED COMMUNITY CAN LEAVE THEM STRANDED AT SEA INDEFINITELY UNQUOTE. HE HAS ALSO
SUGGESTED THAT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE REFUGEE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CONVENED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE LETTER HAS BEEN RELEASED TO THE PRESS AND WILL NO DOUBT BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW.
2. MR ASHLEY HAS ASKED TO CALL ON DR OVEN TO DISCUSS THE QUESTIONS: RAISED IN HIS LETTER. HE WILL PROBABLY DO SO TOMORROW AFTERNOON, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN BRIEF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SAY (IF NECESSARY IN CONFIDENCE) ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS OVER THE HUEY FONG. NOW THAT
(A) YOUR NEW LEGISLATION IS IN FORCE AND HAS HAD A FEW DAYS TO SINK IN
(B) THERE SEEMS LITTLE DANGER THAT THE TUNG AN WILL BE FORCED TO SAIL TO HONG KONG IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE (MANILA TELNO 17): AND
(C) UK MINISTERS HAVE AGREED TO ACCEPT 1,000 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG (THE DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING TELEGRAPHED SEPARATELY TODAY),
•
↓
CONFIDENTAL
100 you