GR 440
CONFIDENTIAL
1 HKK 243
(1472
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 270455Z JUL
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1060 OF 27 JULY, 1979
DESK
PA
27
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
INFO SAVING HANOI.
14444
UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 367 AND MY TELNO 1056 (NOT TO HANOI): ORGANISED RESCUE OF VIETNAM REFUGEES.
sce 14674
1. I AM DISTURBED BY THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE CONTINUING ATTEMPTS TO PROMOTE RESCUE OPERATIONS. EXPERIENCE WITH THE 'ILE DE LUMIERE SHOWED THAT RUMOURS OF ''MERCY SHIPS'' ARE SEIZED ON AVIDLY IN HO CHI MINH CITY WITH A RESULTANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS TRYING TO LEAVE AND OF THE PRICE DEMANDED FOR DOING SO (MY TELNO 1008 - NOT TO ALL). OF THOSE WHO SET OUT TO LOOK FOR A ''MERCY SHIP'' PRESUMABLY MANY NEVER ARRIVE, WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN ACT OF HUMANITY CAN IN FACT HAVE PRECISELY
THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.
·SOLEA
1529
2. IN ADDITION THERE IS THE NEW SITUATION CREATED BY THE VIETNAMESE
UNDERTAKING TO STOP ILLEGAL DEPARTURES FOR A REASONABLE PERIOD''. WHATEVER DOUBTS ABOUT THE SINCERITY OR DURATION OF THE VIETNAMESE . UNDERTAKING, IT IS IN OUR INTERESTS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT IT IS CARRIED OUT AND THAT IT LASTS. THE RESCUE SHIPS COULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FLOUT VIETNAMESE ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ILLEGAL MOVEMENT. AT THE VERY LEAST SUCH ACTION WILL PROVIDE THE VIETNAMESE WITH A READY-MADE CASE FOR CLAIMING THAT THEY. TRIED TO CONTROL ILLEGAL MOVEMENT BUT WERE UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF ATTEMPTS BY OTHERS TO ENTICE REFUGEES OUT OF VIETNAM.
/ 3. I AM CONFIDENTIAL
}