R 150
STRICTED
FM FCO 191636Z JUL 79
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
Hkk 243/1
TOP COPY
TELEGRAM NUMBER 557 OF 18 JULY 1979
годж
22
1417
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND, MR JOHN CUMBER, WILL BE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG ON 19 JULY TO LOOK INTO WAYS IN WHICH THE SCF MIGHT HELP WITH THE REFUGEE PROBLEM. YOU WILL NO DOUBT GIVE HIM ANY ASSISTANCE HE MAY NEED. HIS PROGRAMME IS BEING ARRANGED THROUGH THE LOCAL SCF REPRESENTATIVE (MRS NEWBIGGING) AND HE WILL BE STAYING AT THE HOTEL EXCELSIOR.
2. A POINT TO BEAR IN MIND IS THAT R C THORNTON OF GT MANAGEMENT LTD HAS OFFERED APPARENTLY POUNDS STERLING 150,000 TO THE SCF TO HIRE A SHIP TO RESCUE REFUGEES AT SEA. THE SCF DO NOT WISH TO ENCOURAGE QUOTE MERCY SHIPS UNQUOTE AND ARE SEEKING TO PERSUADE THORNTON THAT HIS MONEY MIGHT BE BETTER EMPLOYED IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES IN HONG KONG. THORNTON HIMSELF IS DUE
IN HONG KONG ON 22 OR 23 JULY AND CUMBER HAS ARRANGED TO MEET HIM
THERE.
CARRINGTON
MR FERGUSSON
MR FRETWELL
ADDITIONAL DISTN
BOAT PEOPLE
FILES
SEAD
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
MK CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR. STRATTON
LORD N & LENNOX MR BULLARD