CONFIDENTIAL
5961
2
ON THE VESSEL UNTIL IT REACHED ITS FIRST PORT OF CALL. OUTSIDE
CHINA.
THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES CONSIDERED THAT IN THE LIGHT OF THIS
ADVICE THEY COULD NOT GIVE TO THE REFUGEES ANY CATEGORICAL
ASSURANCES ABOUT THEIR CHANCES OF RESETTLEMENT AND THAT
IT WAS THEREFORE UNLIKELY THAT THEY COULD BE PERSUADED TO
LAND. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT THEY DECIDED THAT IT WAS
NECESSARY TO INFORM THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES OF THE LIKELIHOOD
THAT THE REFUGEES WOULD STILL BE ON BOARD AT THE VESSEL'S NEXT
PORT OF CALL IN JAPAN.
THE LATEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IS
THAT, IN SPITE OF THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF THE BRITISH AND
CHINESE AUTHORITIES, THE REFUGEES ARE STILL REFUSING TO LAND IN
CHINA. THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO URGE THE REFUGEES
TO LAND IN CHINA.
ENDS
CARRINGTON
DIST:
FILES
PS
ADDITIONAL DIST:
BOAT PEOPLE
SEAD
HK AND CD
UND
FED
NAM D
SAD
EID
PS/LPS
PS/MR HURD
PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
PUSD
CID
IPD
MR FERGUSSON
NEWS D
MR FRETWELL
MVD
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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