6 850
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
IESKBY 3008092 (FCQ AND UKMIS GENEVAL
F WASHINGTON 292323Z MAY 79
TORCO:
Hkk 2431
བ་་
RECEIVED IN NO. 51
31 MAY 1979
DESK OFFICER
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO 1279 OF 29 MAY
INFO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG, UKTISERENEVĀPA
ROUTINE MOSCOW
Ло
J2.5
RY
Action Pasen
(789
INFO SAVING HANOI.
YOUR TELNO 5611 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
788
see (1225
1. MR BLAKER RAISED THIS WITH WARREN CHRISTOPHER THIS AFTERNOON.
HE EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE PROFOUNDLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM TO HONG KONG, AROUND TWELVE THOUSAND IN THE LAST MONTH. THIS PROBLEM AS FAR AS HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HERE CONCERNED WAS IN ADDITION TO THE VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM THE PEOPLES' REPUBLIC OF CHINA, HONG KONG'S
CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE THEM WAS VERY LIMITED. IN THE OPINION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT A CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL EFFORT WAS
NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE MATTERS.
2. MR BLAKER SAID THAT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION HAD BEEN
HIGHLIGHTED BY THE ARRIVAL LAST WEEK AT HONG KONG OF THE
BRITISH-REGISTERED SHIP SIBONGA WITH NEARLY ONE THOUSAND
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON BOARD. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED
THAT THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM AS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE BUT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO OUR
ATTITUDE ON FUTURE CASES OF THIS KIND. MR BLAKER EXPLAINED THE UK'S
EXISTING DIFFICULTIES OVER IMMIGRATION FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD.
3. THE SITUATION HAD NOW BEEN AGGRAVATED BY PRESSURE TO ACCEPT
SOME THREE HUNDRED REFUGEES PICKED UP BY ANOTHER BRITISH-
REGISTERED VESSEL, MV ROACH BANK, WHICH WAS NOW STANDING OFF
TAIWANESE WATERS. MR BLAKER ASKED CHRISTOPHER IF THE AMERICAN
AUTHORITIES COULD USE THEIR INFLUENCE WITH THE TAIWANESE TO
PERSUADE THEM TO ACCEPT THESE REFUGEES FROM ROACHBANK IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION.
CONFIDENTIAL
14. MR BLAKER