32
43|1
HKK 24
00 HONG KONG
NO JUISTALCON
No AW
1814
GR 130
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 061820Z AUG 79
MR. Cortazzi
नर
MR Murray
AR McLaren (HKNGD)
MR SETT
(522)
see 1530
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 626 OF 6 AUGUST
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM CORTAZZI. MY TEL NO 625 RUDDBANK.
YOU WILL UNDERSTAND OUR DIFFICULTIES. IF WE WERE TO GIVE YOU AN
UNDERTAKING TO BRING THE REFUGEES ON THIS BRITISH SHIP STRAIGHT
TO THE UK WE WOULD PROBABLY BE ASKED PUBLICLY WHETHER THESE WOULD COUNT AGAINST OUR 10,000 QUOTA. AS YOU KNOW THIS WOULD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECISION OF MINISTERS, HAVE TO BE THE CASE AND IT
WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OBSCURE THIS FACT.
2. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH DAVID WILSON AND RECOGNISE YOUR DIFFICULTIE
ABOUT MAKING AN EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE. BUT I AM MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT
LIKELY AMERICAN REACTIONS TO WHAT THEY MAY WELL REGARD AS AN
ILLIBERAL BRITISH/HONG KONG RESPONSE.
3. I SHOULD WELCOME YOUR URGENT ADVICE ON THE BEST WAY OF DEALING
WITH OUR DILEMMA.
CARRINGTON
NNNN
;