809
31 MAY 1979 COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
tk 3
GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY SINGAPORE 300830Z
CESKBY THE HAGUE 300708 Z
FM FCO 292019Z MAY
مار
PA
J31-5
TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 119 OF 29 MAY 1979
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON HONG KONG THE HAGUE (FOR S OF S)
MIPT: INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO MR LEE KUAN YEW
BEGINS
DEAR PRIME MINISTER
see 694
MY COLLEAGUES AND 1 ARE DEEPLY WORRIED AT THE HUGE BURDEN THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ARE THROWING ON THE REST OF THE WORLD BY EXPORTING THEIR UNWANTED POPULATION IN CONDITIONS OF TOTAL MISERY AND SOMETIMES DEATH. THE FIGURES OF BOAT PEOPLE NOW MOSTLY CF CHINESE RACE WHO HAVE SOUGHT HAVENS IN NEARBY COUNTRIES
d
ARE APPALLING. I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED FOR HONG KONG WHERE THE PRESSURE OF NEW ARRIVALS HAS AGGRAVATED THE SERIOUS SITUATION CAUSED BY LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.
I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM WILL CONTINUE, IF ONLY BECAUSE THE VIETNAMESE SEEM DETERMINED TO PUSH OUT ALL THEIR CHINESE. MANY OF THESE WILL TRY TO REACH HONG KONG. IN ADDITION WE CAN EXPECT BRITISH SHIPS TO RESCUE MORE OF THESE UNHAPPY PEOPLE AT SEA AND WE SHALL WISH TO HONOUR OUR OBLIGATIONS TO SAVE LIVES IN PERIL. SOME COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN MANY REFUGEES. WE FOR OUR PART HAVE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 984. NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE COUNTRIES LIKE TAIWAN WHO HAVE ADAMANTLY REFUSED TO ADMIT THEM, ALTHOUGH THESE COUNTRIES HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE.
I BELIEVE YOU WILL AGREE WITH MY VIEW THAT TAIWAN SHOULD SHARE THE WORLD BURDEN BY OPENING ITS DOORS TO AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE OF CHINESE RACE WHO ARE BEING FORCED TO LEAVE A REPRESSIVE COMMUNIST COUNTRY LIKE VIETNAM. THERE IS A BRITISH SHIP NOW STANDING OFF A TAIWANESE PORT, WITH NEARLY 320 REFUGESS ABOARD.
CONFIDENTIAL
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