170
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFI
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 120124Z JUL 79
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 973 OF 12 JULY
AND TO IMMEDIATE ROME
135
HKK 243/1
PA H
ROME TELNO 264 TO FCO AND FCO TELNO 118 TO ROME: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1246
130S
1. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE ITALIAN EXPEDITION WITH THE CONSUL-GENERAL HERE AND HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO ASSEMBLE BY 2 AUGUST A GROUP OF AT LEAST 100 REFUGEES WILLING TO GO TO ITALY WHO COULD BE COLLECTED HERE IF THE SHIPS DO NOT MANAGE TO RESCUE ENOUGH AT SEA. HE WILL FOLLOW THIS UP WITH HIS AUTHORITIES. MEANWHILE GRATEFUL IF ROME WOULD ASSURE THE ITALIANS THAT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO COOPERATE IF THEY DECIDE TO SEND ANY OF THE SHIPS
HERE.
2. THE ITALIAN CONSUL-GENERAL ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY AREA IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS NEAR HONG KONG WHERE THE SHIPS MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESCUE REFUGEES. WE TOLD HIM THAT NEARLY ALL THE REFUGEES REACHING HONG KONG, WHETHER FROM THE NORTH OR THE SOUTH, COME ALONG THE CHINESE COAST WITHIN TERRITORIAL WATERS AND THAT IT WOULD NOT, THEREFORE, BE POSSIBLE TO PLAN A SEARCH AREA NEAR HONG KONG
MACLEHOSE
FILES
SEAD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D M & VD
PS
PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
· SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
ADDITIONAL DISTN
BOAT PEOPLE
CONFIDENTAL