GRPS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
THE HAGUE 201600Z AUG 79
(1594)
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 231 OF 20 AUGUST
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG -
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA
GLOVES
HKK 243
+3/1
1
HONG KONG TEL NOS 1179 AND 1185: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MV SOOSTERKERK.
1590 1593
A
21
IN FATE A..
୪
1. STUTTERHEIM, THE DIRECTOR FOR GENERAL AFFAIRS IN THE UFA, CONFIRMED TO COUNSELLOR THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE NETHERLANDS WOULD ACCEPT THE 61 REFUGEES. BUT HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT A PROPOSAL TO TAKE IN THEIR PLACE AN EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF REFUGEES ! ALREADY IN HONG KONG WOULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES.
2.
see see 1600
ee/1600
STUTTERHEIM STRESSED THAT A SUBSTITUTION OF THIS KIND
RAISED AN ISSUE WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE REFERRED TO THE DUTCH
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES AND THROUGH IT TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE MFA AND TO VAN DER KLAAUW (AT PRESENT ON LEAVE). HE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE RELUCTANCE TO SET THIS MACHINERY IN MOTION, GIVEN THE NUMBERS IN QUESTION. COUNSELLOR
POINTED OUT THAT AN ISSUE OF PRINCIPLE WAS INVOLVED: THIS MIGHT
BE THOUGHT TO BE SECONDARY TO BUREAUCRATIC CONSIDERATIONS,
STUTTERHEIM TOOK THE POINT BUT ASKED WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY
PRECEDENT IN HONG KONG FOR SUBSTITUTIONS OF THE KIND NOW PROPOSED.
GRATEFUL FOR A REPLY FROM HONG KONG ON THIS POINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE DUTCH ARE ANXIOUS TO COME TO A DECISION RAPIDLY, NOT LEAST SINCE THE COST OF ACCOMODATING THE REFUGEES IS BEING MET
BY NEDLLOYD.
TAYLOR,
}
FILES
SEAD
PS
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
MAED
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD NEWS D MVD. wed
PS/LPS. FS/MR HUND PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
HR FERGUSSON
MR FRECVELL
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT PEOPLE
CONFIDENTIAL
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