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Dear Bryan.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
London S.W.1
18 June 1979
Witam HKK243/1
R222018,6000 [NO.
16 JUN 09
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Acton 12
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The Prime Minister will have seen repor of a statement
by Dr Mahathir, the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, that Malaysia will ship more than 70,000 Vietnamese refugees in Malaysia back into international waters and will shoot on sight any 'boat people' entering Malaysian waters. The Malaysian Government has since said that no drastic action
will be taken for a reasonable period pending the resettlement of the refugees elsewhere, and Dr Mahathir has retracted his threat to shoot refugees. However it is clear that the Malaysians feel themselves hard-pressed and intend to close their doors firmly. The Indonesians are also refusing to accept more refugees. These actions follow reports that the Thai Government, despite appeals from the International Committee of the Red Cross, are forcibly repatriating refugees into Cambodia and will expel 'boat people'.
These threats and actions have greatly exacerbated the crisis. They will inevitably lead to still greater pressure. on Hong Kong. Public opinion in Britain has been aroused and the Government will be pressed to take further action. A PNQ has been put down by Mr Shore for this afternoon.
We shall be replying to your letter of 14 June when we have been able to review the situation in the light of talks
which Mr Blaker is having with the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva today. In the meantime.
B G Cartledge Esq No 10 Downing Street
CONFIDENTIAL
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