Private Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
(763
HKK243/1 RECEIVE PS/LPS
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PS/Mr Blaker PS/PUS
Mr. Cortazzi? MrLeahy
Mr McLaren Mr Simons Mr Shepherd Mr Braithwaite Mr Whyte
мо
Mr Simpsonabar
A
B
INDO-CHINA REFUGEES
1. I learned this afternoon that the Home Secretary is concerned
about the need to give assurances of ultimate resettlement in the
UK, if necessary, for some 1,200 "boat people" from Vietnam picked up
by two British ships this week in the South China Sea. He is
consulting his own officials early tomorrow morning and may want to
discuss the matter with the Secretary of State before Cabinet.
He
will not raise it in Cabinet unless Lord Carrington agrees.
2.
The first group of 900 was picked up by MV 'Sibonga' heading for Hong Kong. This was the subject of the Department's submission
of 22 May to Mr Blaker and his letter to Mr Raison, which went to
1
the Home Office last night. We have just heard that the
MV 'Roachbank' has picked up another 293 refugees and is heading
for Taiwan.
Both ships are owned by the same line and seem
''respectable'.
3. Further details on the Hong Kong Government's worries over the 'Sibonga' are in the Department's separate minute.
4. The matter is urgent because if we delay giving the usual assurances that the UK will accept all the refugees not taken by third countries, there will be alarm in Hong Kong, we can expect a lot of awkward publicity, and other governments may start to
toughen their attitude.
5. I attach a note which the Secretary of State could use in
discussion with the Home Secretary and if necessary in Cabinet. also recommend that he should in any case arrange to have a word
with Mr Whitelaw before Cabinet.
De
I
23 May 1979
CONFIDENTIAL
DF Murray