CONFIDENTIAL
OR 450
CONFIDENTIAL
F WASHINGTON 131616Z JUN 79
HKCK 2431
}
1094
966
TO IMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1483 CF 13 JUNE 1979
FROM ROBINSON
*NDEX
PA
No 806
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND GOVERNOR HONG KONG'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON 1. WHEN THE GOVERNOR FIRST PROPOSED TO VISIT WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK (HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 731) IT WAS BECAUSE THE BEST HOPE OF A SATISFACTORY OFF-TAKE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG SEEMED TO LIE IN WASHINGTON EITHER THROUGH A DIRECT INCREASE OF REFUGEES TAKEN FROM HONG KONG TO THE U.S. OR THROUGH U.S. SUPPORT FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION ELSEWHERE.
see (1125
2. 1 AM AFRAID THAT I SEE LITTLE PROSPECT OF THE U.S. GIVING EARLY EFFECTIVE HELP ON EITHER SCORE. IT IS NOT THAT ANYONE HERE IS TRYING TO MINIMISE THE PROBLEM, IT IS RATHER THAT THE AMERICANS WILL NOT AGREE TO TAKE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED NUMBERS OF REFUGEES THEMSELVES, AND (ONLY PARTLY BECAUSE OF THIS) ARE LIKELY TO BE RELUCTANT TO TAKE A VIGOROUS LEAD INTERNATIONALLY. (THEY HAVE WELCOMED THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD INTERNATIONALLY AND WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE US REMAIN IN THE LEAD). THERE ARE NO IDEAS HERE FOR DEALING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PROBLEM ON THE SCALE IT IS NOW ASSUMING. IF THE U.S. WERE TO FEEL COMPELLED TO MAKE SOME FURTHER GESTURES, THEY WOULD BE LIKELY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE REFUSAL OF THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES RATHER THAN TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON HONG
KONG ON THE GROUND THAT THE COLONY IS CONTINUING TO TAKE REFUGEES. 3. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, AND THE SLOW APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM BETWEEN NEW YORK AND GENEVA, I RECOMMEND THAT WE SHOULD VERY SOON MAKE CLEAR TO THE AMERICANS THE CONSEQUENCES FOR UK AND HONG KONG POLICY AS WE SEE THEM. (CAN WE MAINTAIN PRESENT POLICY ON PESCUE AT SEA AND ADMISSION TO HONG KONG?). I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT, WHATEVER THESE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE, THEY WILL SUFFICE TO MOVE THE US TO ACTION WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY RELIEVE HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS. BUT IF WE SPEAK PLAINLY NOW, THERE WILL BE NO GROUNDS FOR CLAIMING MISUNDERSTANDING LATER AND VANCE WILL BE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS WHEN HE ATTENDS THE ASEAN MEETING IN BALI. WHATEVER WE PROPOSE TO SAY TO THE AMERICANS SHOULD IN ANY CASE BE SAID BEFORE CARTER'S PARTY LEAVES FOR THE FAR EAST ON 23 JUNE.
C.C. HKK 026/14
CONFIDENTIAL.
f 4.