RESTRICTED
228
CRS 189
RESTRICTED
FM WELLINGTON 230335Z JAN 79
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 27 OF 23 JANUARY
INFO GOVERNOR HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
(201
HKK
243
RAIDULD IN MIGRY 20. 51 2 6 JAN1979
RE
$
INDEX
PA
RY
Action ken
No
YOUR TELNO 36 TO CANBERRA: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
J2911 25
1. DHC CALLED TODAY ON MARTIN, HEAD OF UNITED NATIONS AND COMMON- WEALTH DIVISION, MFA, SPOKE AS INSTRUCTED, AND LEFT A PIECE OF PAPER, 2. MARTIN SAID THAT THE NZ GOVT. HAD NO PLANS TO ADMIT REFUGEES OF INDOCHINESE ORIGIN OTHER THAN
(A) FAMILY REUNIFICATION CASES AND
(B) THE 600 (SIX HUNDRED) REFUGEES THAT THEY HAD ANNOUNCED ON
4 DECEMBER 1978 THAT THEY WOULD TAKE FROM CAMPS IN THAILAND
AND MALAYSIA.
3. EVEN IF THERE WERE LATER TO BE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES, OTHER THAN REUNIFICATION CASES, THAT NZ COULD OFFER TO ACCEPT, MARTIN THOUGHT IT LIKELY THAT ANY ADDITIONAL REFUGEES WOULD ALSO BE DRAWN FROM CAMPS IN THAILAND AND MALAYSIA. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WOULD ACCORD WITH UNHCR'S OWN PRIORITIES. BUT, SPEAKING PERSONALLY, HE FULLY APPRECIATED THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THE PRESENCE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN SUCH NUMBERS MUST BE CAUSING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. HE WOULD REPORT OUR DEMARCHE TO HIS OFFICIAL SUPERIORS. NZ POLICY ON REFUGEES WAS KEPT UNDER CONSTANT
REVIEW.
SMEDLEY
FILES
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PO/MR LUARD
UND
IK & GD
SEAD
FED
PS/PUS
SAD
SIR A DUFF
EID (E)
MR CORTAZZI
PUSD
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
MR BIRT
LONDON
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
·
OID
TPD
NMS. D
MVD
HR WEIR
MR MURRAY
RESTRICTED