CONFIDENTIAL
1HKK 243
CR150
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 251315Z JUN 79
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 441 OF 25 JUNE
INFO PRIORITY TOKYO
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
28/1199
1. THE JAPANESE EMBASSY HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT DECIDED ON 23 JUNE THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER REQUIRE GUARANTEES OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES FROM THIRD COUNTRIES WHOSE SHIPS REACHED JAPAN WITH REFUGEES ON BOARD, WHETHER OR NOT THE JAPANESE PORT WAS FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL. THIS HOWEVER IS WITH THE PROVISO THAT RECIPROCITY WAS GUARANTEED IN RESPECT OF JAPANESE REGISTERED SHIPS ARRIVING IN PORTS OF OTHER TERRITORIES. 2. THE EMBASSY SPECIFICALLY ASKED WHETHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PREPARED IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES TO WAIVE THE NEED FOR A GUARANTEE OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES FROM THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IN RESPECT OF JAPANESE REGISTERED VESSELS ARRIVING IN HONG KONG
WITH REFUGEES ON BOARD.
3. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS WHICH WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO PASS TO
THE JAPANESE.
CARRINGTON
FILES SEAD HK & GD
UND
FED
BESD
X AM D SAD EID (E)
PUSD
OTD
IPD
M & VD
PS
PS/LPS
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING ST).
NEWS D
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT.OFFICE LONDON
MR.WOODFIELD
MR.BURLEIGH
MR.HILLARY
MR.V.MCGEE
HOME OFFICE QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE CHOYDON.
FAO/ODA
PS/MR. HURD
PS/HR. BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR.CORPAZZI
MR. LEANY
MR.MURRAY
MR.BIRT
CONFIDENTIAL