CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON 252233 Z MAY
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1248 OF 25 MAY
DESK ON
KROEX
مه
INFO PRIORITY BANGKOK, HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA.
YOUR TEL 555: KAMPUCHEAN REFUGEES,
PA
30
1. THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE AND MIGRATION AFFAIRS AT STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE TOLD US THAT WHILE THEY APPRECIATE HONG KONG'S DIFFICULT SITUATION THEY ARE UNABLE TO AGREE THAT THE US SHOULD QUOTE ACCEPT UNQUOTE KAMPUCHEAN REFUGEES WIO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY US OFFICIALS IN THAILAND AS HAVING HONG KONG CONNECTIONS. THEY SEE NO OBJECTION, HOWEVER, TO US OFFICIALS ON THE SPOT CONTINUING WHERE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE HM EMBASSY BANGKOK WITH EVIDENCE OF HONG KONG CONNECTIONS. 2. SPEAKING PERSONALLY, THE OFFICIAL CONCERNED COMMENTED THAT HONG KONG'S SUGGESTION WAS TANTAMOUNT TO ASKING THE US TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KAMPUCHEAN REFUGEES, PENDING CLARIFICATION OF THEIR EVENTUAL ACCEPTABILITY TO OTHER THIRD COUNTRIES. HE SAID THAT THE US WERE NOT QUOTE IN THE REFUGEE PROCESSING BUSINESS UNQUOTE AND HAD NO WISH TO SEE QUOTE ANOTHER GUAM UNQUOTE (A REFERENCE TO THE SITUATION IN 1975 WHEN THE US HELD
A LARGE NUMBER OF INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES IN GUAM, PENDING OFFERS OF RESETTLEMENT BY OTHER COUNTRIES, AND WERE OBLIGED EVENTUALLY TO ACCEPT THE RESIDUE).
JAY
FILES
COPIES TO
PS/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 DUFT
SIR A PARSONS
HR CORTAZZI. MR LEAUX
MIR MURRAY
HONG. KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH .
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON NA MO GEA
CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON
'FAO ODM