GRS 140
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM UKMIS GENEVA 250755Z MAY 82
TO ROUTINE FCO
TEL NO 267 OF 25 MAY
INFO SAVING HONG KONG, PEKING, HANOI
YOUR TELNO 1691 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
TOP COPY
243
HKK RECEIVED C
MY NO. 51
PA
REGISTRY
jon Take
1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE SECOND SECRETARY IN THE CHINESE MISSION
WHO ATTENDED THE MEETING ON 22 APRIL, MRS YUNG.
2. SHE INSISTED THAT HER INTERVENTION HAD BEEN RESTRICTED TO A
RESTATEMENT OF WELL-KNOWN CHINESE POLICY TO ACCEPT REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA, FIRST VOICED AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOUTH
EAST ASIAN REFUGEES HELD IN GENEVA IN 1979. SHE HAD ALSO REFERRED
TO THE RESETTLEMENT IN CHINA OF REFUGEES FROM THAILAND, BUT SAID
MOST OF THESE WERE OF LAOTIAN ORIGIN. SHE ADDED THAT FROM HER
EXPERIENCE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES PREFERRED TO GO TO WESTERN
COUNTRIES.
3. SHE WOULD NOT BE DRAWN ON THE POSSIBILITY OF CHINA TAKING
VIETNAMESE FROM HONG KONG. WE DOUBT IF THERE IS ANY MERIT IN
TRYING TO PURSUE IT FURTHER.
FCO PLEASE PASS TO SAVING ADDRESSEES
MARSHALL
LIMITED
HK & GD
FED
SEAD
UND
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
NEWS D
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/MR RIFKIND
PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE, LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
(94)