V
00 KINGSTON
GR 270
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO 030300Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE KINGSTON TELNO 234 OF 3 MAY,
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPARTMENT
WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 428 OF 3 MAY.
INFO IMMEDIATE
COPENHAGEN AND ROYAL PARTY (FOR SIR MARTIN CHARTERIS).
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 346 OF 2 MAY.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
| MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR HELPFUL SUGGESTION TO THE SOLICITORS FOR THE MAERSK LINE THAT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP MIGHT BE DELAYED IF THIS WOULD NOT CAUSE UNACCEPTABLE HARDSHIP. HOWEVER, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE THE SHIP DELAYED ON THE GROUND THAT ITS ARRIVAL MIGHT CLASH WITH THAT OF HER MAJESTY.
2. IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE IF ANY IMPRESSION WERE GIVEN THAT ARRANGEMENTS TO DEAL WITH THE REFUGEES WERE BEING TAILORED TO SUIT THE ROYAL VISIT. I SHALL SO INFORM THE HONG KONG AGENTS OF THE MAERSK SHIPPING LINE.
3. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE MUST ALLOW THESE REFUGEES TO LAND IN HONG KONG AND TO REMAIN HERE UNTIL ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR THEIR ONWARD JOURNEY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY WHICH IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM.
4. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS READY TO DEAL WITH SUCH A SITUATION. WE ARE NOT INEXPERIENCED AT DEALING WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND I AM SURE THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT SATISFACTORILY AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE ROYAL VISIT.
5. THE RECEPTION OF SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES WILL PLACE A BURDEN ON US AND WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY ASSISTANCE WHICH YOU COULD GIVE US, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO PERSUADING OTHER COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THEM.
CALLAGHAN
WNNN
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