CONFIDENTATO
Hkk243/1
RECEIVED VE MARY NO. 51
PSBK OF!
HVDCX
MAY 979
17.4.8
GR 145
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 2E0140Z MAY 79
по
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.651 OF 26 MAY,
INFO PRIORITY: WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA,
1.
ROUTINE : HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
PA
B1.5
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : RESETTLEMENT GUARANTEES.
IN CONSIDERING THE 'SIBONGA' CASE U.K MINISTERS WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO BEAR IN MIND THE FACT THAT THE U.S CONTINUES TO OFFER GUARANTEES WHERE REQUIRED FOR REFUGEES RESCUED BY U.S SHIPS (BOTH NAVAL AND MERCHANT). THE U.S CONSULATE-GENERAL HERE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT SUCH A GUARANTEE WAS REQUIRED AND GIVEN BEFORE 439 REFUGEES RESCUED BY THE USS ROBERT F.PEARY WERE ALLOWED ASHORE BY THE THAI AUTHORITIES FOLLOWING THE SHIP'S ARRIVAL OFF PATTAYA ON 8 MAY,
20
U.S SHIPS WITH HONG KONG AS THE FIRST PORT OF CALL ARE
LOCAL OPINION QUITE LIKELY TO REACH HONG KONG OVER THE SUMMER. WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND IF WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN RESETTLEMENT GUARANTEES FROM THE U.S BUT NOT FROM H.M.G.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
PS
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/LFS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
STR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH.
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S CATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE- CROYDON
CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON
MIL MCGEE FAO ODM