F
CONFIDENTIAL
2 -
(aday follows by bay)
3. In a letter to Cortazzi dated 20 April the Indonesian
Ambassador has formally invited British representation
the conference (copy of invitation follows in the bagt
"at ambassadorial level" and on the understanding that delegates
have full powers from their government. The stated objective
of the meeting is:
a)
to obtain firm official commitments regarding
the number of refugees to be accepted from the island;
and
b) to obtain specific financial commitments from
governments to allow the establishment of the centre.
Would you please hold yourself ready to attend?
4. Please approach the Indonesians urgently and at an
appropriately high level about Hong Kong participation in
the scheme. You may speak as in paragraptr 3 above and on
the following lines:
a) the omission of Hong Kong from the proposals will
cause us real difficulty. This is an international
refugee problem, not just confined to ASEAN countries,
and should be tackled as such.
b) Hong Kong with Thailand and Malaysia are the three
major South East Asian destinations for refugees and
Hong Kong has the least room;
c)
despite our logical and constitutional concern to
taken practical stab relieve Hong Kongwe have also had a concern to help the
eeneern
Thais and Malaysians despite our own immigration
commitments
/a).
PRIMETHENWT AL