GR $300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM ROME 0516257 JUL 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 264 OF 5 JULY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)
HKK 2431
"RECEIVED
DESK V
MIDEX
10
P.A
1296
HONG KONG TELNO 919 AND YOUR TELNO 234 TO PARIS: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES,
(1283)
26
see305
1307
1. IN CONSIDERING ANY FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS TO US HERE, YOU WILL WISH TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE ITALIANS HAVE TODAY SENT THREE478 WARSHIPS (A HELICOPTER CARRIER, A CRUISER AND A SUPPORT SHIP) TO THE FAR EAST. AMID A BLAZE OF PUBLICITY, TO ASSIST WITH THE REFUGEE PROBLEM''. DETAILS OF THE DEPLOYMENTS ARE GIVEN IN MY NAVAL ATTACHE'S TELNOS URE OF 021542Z AND 04103OZ TO MODUK (FOR LONSDALE, DI3 WEST) REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO THE FCO,
2.
IT IS NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT PURPOSE THE WARSHIPS WILL SERVE, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MFA THE INTENTION IS TO PICK UP AT LEAST 600 REFUGEES ON THE HIGH SEAS AND BRING THEM BACK TO ITALY IF THEY WISH TO COME. THE WARSHIPS HAVE MEDICAL TEAMS, FOOD SUPPLIES AND VIETNAMESE INTERPRETERS ON BOARD,
3.
THE MFA HAVE ADMITTED TO US PRIVATELY THAT IT MAY NOT BE EASY TO FIND SUITABLE GROUPS OF REFUGEES ON THE HIGH SEAS WILLING TO COME TO ITALY. IT OCCURS TO US IN THIS CONTEXT (THOUGH WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THE IDEA WITH THE ITALIANS) THAT THEY MIGHT POSSIBLY BE PERSUADED TO SEND AT LEAST ONE OF THE SHIPS TO HONG KONG TO PICK UP A PRE-SELECTED GROUP THERE. NOT FULFIL THE ITALIANS PUBLICITY AIMS SO WELL. PERHAPS BE ADMINISTRATIVELY AND OPERATIONALLY MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM.
4。
"
THIS MIGHT BUT IT WOULD
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE ITALIANS WOULD THINK OF THE IDEA IN PARA 3 ABOVE NOR WHETHER IT WOULD WORK IN PRACTICE. BUT YOU MAY THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH ASKING US TO GIVE IT A TRY.
GOODI SON
PS PS/LPS
PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
FILES
SEAD
NEWS D M & VD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
EID
FUSD
OID
IPD
WED
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
ADDITIONAL DISTN
BOAT PEOPLE
il