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CONFIDENTIAL
ET FCOLN MKD
TT GEMIS
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
30064OZ DEC
GRS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO TELETTER FCO
TELETTER NER
OF 30064OZ DECEMBER 85
AND TO TELETTER UKMUS GENEVA
451
med to Mr Nach
comment.
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LKK 24362 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
CZ JAN1986
DASK OF Pan INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Adyu Taken
1
FROM: KEN WOODHOUSE, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, SECURITY BRANCH FOLLOWING FOR: C, LEEKS AND MISS D.J. WALKER
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: BBC BROADCASTS
AS YOU ARE AWARE (MY TELNO NY/GEN/188), THE AMERICANS ARE QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE BBC VIETNAMESE SERVICE BROADCA- STING NEWS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FRENCH MERCY SHIPS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXPLAINED THE DANGERS TO VOA AND TO HAVE
RECEIVED AN ASSURANCE THAT THE EFFORTS OF THESE SHIPS WOULD NOT (NOT) BE PUBLICISED.
2. THESE SHIPS CREATE MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE. WHEN M WAS 'IN PARIS, MARCHAND MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE FRENCH. THE AMERICANS HAVE SAID THAT THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION NOT (NOT) TO PROCEED WITH THE RASRO TRANSIT CENTRE WAS THE RESULT OF BEING LANDED WITH 500 SHIP RESCUESCASES
FROM ONE OF THE MERCY SHIPS. THE AMERICANS ARE NOW TELLING US THAT
OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE ARRIVALS IS BEING UNDERMINED BY THE BBC BROADCASTS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD RESPOND BY SAYING THAT
THE BBC HAVE TAKEN THE POINT AND ARE NOT (NOT) NOW REFERRING TO THE MERCY SHIPS.
3. WE WILL HAVE A FURTHER INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE IF WE AGREE TO
PROVIDE A RASRO TRANSHT CENTRE IN HONG KONG.
4. WOULD PT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO LET US KNOW WHETHER THE BBC
HAVE RESPONDED TO THE DISCUSSIONS NASH HAD WITH THEM (HIS TELETTER
OF 20 NOVEMBER)?
SIGNED.....
K.J. WOODHOUSE
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