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10. NEWSOM ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THE LARGER SHIPS CARRYING
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES APPEARED TO ORIGINATE IN HONG KONG, OR AT
LEAST TO HAVE SOME HONG KONG CONNECTIONS, MR BLAKER SAID THAT WE
WOULD LOOK INTO THIS.
11. IN CONCLUSION MR BLAKER EMPHASISED THE URGENCY OF THE
ROACHBANK CASE. HE ADDED THAT IF THE INFLOW OF VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES CONTINUED WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AGAIN AT OUR POLICIES.
CONCLUSION
12. CHRISTOPHER AND NEWSOM WERE BOTH CLEARLY SYMPATHETIC WITH OUR PROBLEMS, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE OF HONG KONG. NEWSOM SUBSEQUENTLY TELEPHONED TO SAY THAT THE AMERICANS WILL AT ONCE APPROACH THE TAIWAN AUTHORITIES ON THE ROACHBANK, THOUGH HE COULD NOT SAY HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY WOULD BE. HOWEVER, IN THE LIGHT OF CHRISTOPHER'S OTHER COMMENTS, WE WOULD BE UNWISE TO EXPECT TOO
MUCH FROM THE US ON THE WIDER PROBLEMS HONG KONG FACES.
FCO PASS SAVING HANOI
JAY
FILES HK & GD
PS
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
OID
PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY
IPD
NEWS D MVD
MR MURRAY
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR KOUSE
CROYDON
MR V MCGEE FAO ODM
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LONDON