GPS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTAL
WASHINGTON 142155Z JUNE 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG,
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1521 OF 14 JUNE
(1115
HKK 243
RECEIVED APO. 51
19 JUN
DESK OFFICIA
INDEX
20
YOUR TELEGRAMS NUMBERS 650 AND 664 : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. FURTHER ENQUIRIES SO FAR WITH CONTACTS IN THE AGENCIES CONCERNED HAVE YIELDED VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF HARD EVIDENCE (YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 658). THEY SAY THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF REPORTS FROM THE US CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG ABOUT INVOLVEMENT OF HONG KONG CHINESE BUSINESSMEN AS MIDDLEMEN OR BROKERS BOTH IN REGARD TO MONEY AND SHIPS. TAIWAN BUSINESSMEN ARE ALSO THOUGHT TO BE INVOLVED IN SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. THEY SAY THE STORIES ARE NOT WELL SOURCED AND LACK PRECISION BUT THEY HAVE BEEN HEARD SO OFTEN THAT IT IS FELT HERE THAT SOME CREDENCE MUST BE GIVEN THEM.
2. THIS SCARCELY JUSTIFIES THE TERMS IN WHICH THE AMERICANS HAVE TAKEN THE POINT UP WITH US (OURTES NUMBERS 1279, PARA. 10, AND 1343, PARA.9). IT LOOKS AS IF SOME INTELLIGENCE IS BEING WITHHELD FROM US FOR SOURCE PROTECTION REASONS.
3. MEANWHILE, ON THE BROADER REFUGEE QUESTION, THE AMERICANS ARE NOW LOOKING FOR WAYS OF APPEARING AS FORTHCOMING AS THEY CAN WHEN THE GOVERNOR COMES HERE. THERE HAVE BEEN HINTS THAT SOME SMALL RE-ADJUSTMENT WITHIN THE US MONTHLY INTAKE IN FAVOUR OF HONG KONG IS NOT EXCLUDED, AND OF A READINESS TO CONSIDER OTHER IDEAS CONSTRUCTIVELY ON THEIR MERITS WITHOUT COMMITMENT. BUT WE MUST ALSO EXPECT THEM TO PRESS THE UK ITSELF TO DO MORE (OUR FIGURES ARE CONTRASTED UNFAVOURABLY WITH OTHERS). THE PICTURE COULD BECOME COMPLICATED IF REFUGEE BOATS WERE TO GET AS FAR AS US WATERS, IE GUAM OR HAWAII, A PROSPECT WHICH IS CLEARLY KORRYING THE AMERICANS BECAUSE OF LIKELY ADVERSE DOMESTIC REPERCUSSIONS HERE. IN CONSIDERING ANY FURTHER GESTURES AT THE MARGIN IN FAVOUR OF HONG KONG, THEY MAY HAVE AT LEAST PARTLY IN MIND THAT THIS MIGHT ENCOURAGE HONG KONG DOORS TO REMAIN OPEN. 4. CONFLICTING ADVICE WITHING THE ADMINISTRATION AS TO WHETHER VIETNAMESE REFUFEES SHOULD BE RAISED AT THE VIENNA SUMMIT (OURTEL. NUMBER 1432) APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN FAVOUR OF THE EAST ASIA BUREAU, VANCE ANNOUNCED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY THAT IT WOULD BE DISCUSSED. AS FOR THE LATEST US
CONFIDENTIAL
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