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CONFIDENTIAL
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Cambodian refugees and the reported statement on 14 June by Dr Mahathir, the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, that Malaysia intends to ship back to- sea Vietnamese refugees in their country and to, shoot on sight new boat people entering Malaysian waters make the problem of the utmost urgency. Hong Kong with over 54,000 Vietnamese refugees is
in a very serious situation. We shall continue to
maintain humane policies as long as possible but Thai and Malaysian actions can only make Hong Kong's position still more desperate.
I am appealing to the Malaysian Prime Minister
to cooperate in our efforts to find a humane solution,
but if many thousand more lives are not to be lost
we must have very early action by the international community. May I urge you to take an initiative
now and call an international conference under
your own auspices?
Our aim must be to put maximum
pressure on Vietnam and persuade the rest of the world to help to reduce the appalling human misery
which Vietnamese policies are causingt
Yours sincerely Margaret Thatcher ends.
2. We do not intend to publish this message but
we shall announce that a further message calling
for a very early conference has been sent.
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