CODE 18.77
Mr Hoare (HKGD WH312)
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Reference........
77166
RGR pl.
THE 418
101
SHIP RESCUES: MV HUPEH, MV POYANG
1. On the strength of Davies' letter to Mr Clift of 28 May your predecessor minuted to me on 2 July on the prospects of settling the residual refugees from these two ships in the UK.
(136)
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2. I have discussed this informally with Mr Spence at Lunar House, and also had a word with Mr Herdman in WIAD. Although from these talks and from our own past papers in SEAD it is clear that the subject involves a number of different issues UK refugee policy, Hong Kong's position, Bermuda shipping, our legal and constitu- tional responsibilities etc I have put together a draft which I think SEAD, who in practice lead in the FCO on Vietnamese refugee matters, could probably live with and would be prepared to try out on the Home Office (though I should not like to say whether at the end of the day we shall end up taking these refugees).
3.
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Could you and other addressees please let me have any comments, improvements, etc on the attached draft. I am now being lobbied by the London office of the UNHCR who as much as Hong Kong are in practice the demandeurs in this case.
MKK 243/1
-Abylagan.
CM J Segar
BU noted with
folia (161) for
Mr Hoone on
South East Asian Department ole
74118 Ap29/0
W87
233 5073
See (181
4 August 1982
Cc: Mr Herdman (WIAD G74C/3)
Mr Cambridge (MVD CL408) Mr Siddle (Legal Advisers
K200B)
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