GRS 200A
VEIDENTIAL
FR HANCI 2807137 MAY
79
TO IMMEDIATE FCC
TELNO 149 OF 28 MAY
CONFIDENTIAL
750
HK KZ A-3/1
RECEIVED IN PARCAN
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (GOVERNOR)
DEA #NOCK
Tho
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON AND PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
FA
(749A)
YOUR TELNC 93: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
:
ACH
21.5
1. I CALLED ON MAI VAN BO HEAD OF EUROPE 11 DEPARTMENT OF THE MEA, ON 26 MAY
J
I SPOKE
ALONG THE SAME LINES AS MR CORTAZZI (YOUR TELNO 323 TO. HONG KONG REFERS).
2 MAI VAN BO WEITHER CONFIRMED OR DENIED
see (183
THAT TWC SHIPS HAD BEEN STANDING BY OFF THE MOUTH OF THE MEKONG, PEADY TO LOAD REFUGEES. HE EMPHASIED HOWEVER THAT THE VIET- NAMESE GOVERNMENT REGRETTED THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE REFUGEE EXODUS POSING FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION. VIETNAM THEREFORE WISHED TO COOPERATE WITH UNHCR TO BRING THE EXODUS UNDER CONTROL. HE DENIED THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ALLOWED OFFICIALS TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS FROM REFUGEES. THOSE OFFICIALS WHO DID SO WERE CORRUPT.
3 1 REPLIED THAT THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD OFFICIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM OF PAYMENTS BY REFUGEES. HOWEVER IT WAS ENCOURAGING THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD RECOGNISED THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE REFUGEE EXODUS, AND HAD EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO COOPPERATE WITH UNHCR, WITH THIS IN MIND WE WOULD WATCH CLOSELY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
TWO SHIPS OFF THE MEKONG.
EVANS
FILES
COPIES TO
FS/LPS
HK & GD
PS
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
·OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/MR HURD
PS/MR BLAKER - PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY
MR MURRAY
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT·
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
MR V MCGEE PAO ODM
LONDON
:
CONFIDENTIAL