THE PRIME MINISTER
10 DOWNING STREET
SEAD
as Supp
1063
fr
12/n'
LPS
HKK 243/1 Ps/pus
Sin A Duff
11 June 1979
RECEIVED
DESK OF MIDEX
No
8206
MR. ĆENTAZZI MR. MuRcons PED
Манеко
UND
Thank you for your letter of 24 May about the
implications of the increasing flow of refugees in South-East
Asia.
I recognise, of course, the plight of these unfortunate
people as well as the depth of concern which Airey Neave must
have felt about the problem. The issue cannot be solved
without the greatest possible co-operation by the international
community as a whole and you will have seen that I have recently
taken steps to encourage this. So far as this country is
concerned, you will also by now be aware that we have decided,
on humanitarian grounds, to admit those refugees who have
recently arrived in Hong Kong on board the MV Sibonga. The task
of receiving and caring for these distressed people is a
considerable one and I have asked the Home Secretary to make the
necessary arrangements for this as a matter of urgency. I
understand that his officials have already been in touch with
you and I warmly welcome the arrangements which you have been
able to make to receive some of the refugees from the MV Sibonga
in the near future.
(signed)
M.T.
(sgd) M T
Miss Joyce Pearce, M.B.E., M.A.