IN
CONFIDENTIAL
4. We have little choice under current policy but to take the Roachbank refugees. If we do not, we will damage our reasonable posture on Indo-Chinese refugees (and the ship plus refugees will inevitably land up in Hong Kong!). If we do so, but decline to take the larger group on board the Sibonga on the grounds that Hong Kong is a British territory, there would be the following consequences:-
(a) Local opinion would conclude that the British Government
was not willing to fulfill its responsibilities towards Hong Kong. The Governor would be in a very difficult position. The Sibonga rescue, and the Hong Kong request to the UK to take its refugees have received a great deal ofpublicity in Hong Kong as well as this country. (b) British efforts to get other countries (eg the US) to
relieve the pressure on Hong Kong by accepting refugees
There are from the Colony would be greatly weakened. now 32,000 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong and the number could increase to over 70,000 by the autumn. There is an urgent need for more resettlement places. The Merchant Shipping (Safety) Convention Act of 1949 places an obligation on ships' masters to go to the aid of vessels in distress. Masters would be deterred from picking up refugees in genuine distress if we were to change our policy.
5.
(c)
The UK accepted 1653 Indo-Chinese refugees for permanent settlement between 1975 and 1978. In January this year the previous Government announced that a further 1,500 would be accepted over the next year or so, 1,000 from Hong Kong and 250 each from Malaysia and Thailand. Of the Hong Kong quota of 1,000 174 have so far arrived, and a further 239 have been processed for resettlement.
HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
23 May 1979
CONFIDENTIAL 2.