GRS 200
CONFIDENTAIL
FM PARIS
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 432
OF 2116217 APRIL 86
CONFIDENTIAL
ним 24313 REGISTRO
RECEIVED IN REGISTR
OP
1 MAY 1986
DESK OFFICER
COPY
REGISTRY
Action Takem
INDEX
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, BRUSSELS, BONN-
BRUSSELS FOR HKG 74
W
HONG KONG TELNO 1085: AND MANILA TELNOS 206 AND 211: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MERCY SHIPS
PA
1. THE QUAI HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED
CHARGE 300 RESETTLEMENT PLACES FOR THE REGINE'S OPERATIONS. WARREN, DE MISSION FOR REFUGEES, HAS TOLD US THAT THE DECISION WAS TAKEN AT A HIGH POLITICAL LEVEL WITH LITTLE CONSULTATION OF OFFICIALS. WE DREW TO HIS ATTENTION THE PROBELMS POSED BY MERCY SHIPS' OPERATIONS (HONG KONG TUR PARA 4). HE TOOK NOTE.
2. WE SAID WE HOPED THAT THIS GENEROUS FRENCH OFFER OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES WOULD BE THE FORERUNNER OF SIMILAR GENEROUS RESPONSE TO OUR RECENT REQUESTS FOR FURTHER FRENCH HELP IN TAKING REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG'S CAMPS. WARREN WAS NOT OPTIMISTIC. HE AGAIN PROMISED AN EARLY RESPONSE ON THE LISTS GIVEN TO THE FRENCH CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG LAST DECEMBER (MY TELNO 217): HE SAID THAT FRENCH WOULD TAKE SOME BUT NOT ALL OF THESE.
3. WE RECOMMEND THAT MINISTERS TAKE AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THEIR NEW FRENCH COLLEAGUES TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. MRS CHALKER'S LIKELY MEETING ON 28 APRIL WITH BARIANI, THE JUNIOR QUAI MINISTER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUGEE QUESTIONS, MAY PROVIDE AN OCCASION. BARIANI WOULD ALSO BE AN APPROPARIATE INTERLOCUTOR ON THE QUESTION OF VISAS FOR HONG KONG BDTCS.
FRETWELL
REPEATED AS REQUESTED
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Boar People
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EURO-ARAB DIALOGUE: POLITICAL/GENERAL
LIMITED
NENAD ECD(E) MED NEWS D TRED
CRD PS
PS/MRS CHALKER PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS
MR GUCDALL
MR DEREK THOMAS MR RENWICK
SIR D MIERS MR FERGUSSON MR RATFORD
SIR C TICKELL (ODA)
MR AINSCOW
(ODA)
(t cc & Mercyships peld
COPIES TO:- MR SHEARER
CONFIDENTIAL
CABINET OFFICE
zel