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WOULD NOT BE GRANTED UNTIL ACCEPTABLE ASSURANCES WERE RECEIVED AS TO THE ONWARD PASSAGE OF THE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, WITH- HOLDING OF IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE COULD DELAY THE LOADING OR UNLOADING OF CARGO, CONSUL-GENERAL WAS PUT IN CONTACT WITH ICEM AND ISS IN HONG KONG. HE WILL CONVEY THE OUTCOME OF THIS MEETING TO HIS GOVERNMENT.
4. WE THINK THAT BURMESE CONSUL-GENERAL WOULD LIKE 'AVA' TO ENTER TERRITORIAL WATERS, SO ENABLING HIM TO VISIT THE SHIP AND
REPORT FURTHER TO HIS GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, MASTER HAS TOLD HIM THAT HE IS NOT SATISFIED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REFUGEES WHO ESCAPED AND THAT HE DECLINES TO BRING THE VESSEL INTO TERRITORIAL WATERS FOR THE TIME BEING.
5. IT IS OUR IMPRESSION THAT SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES IN
INDO-CHINA AND THAILAND ARE WATCHING THE SITUATION CLOSELY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TRY TO ENTER HONG KONG ILLEGALLY, FOR WELL- KNOWN REASONS, WE THINK IT IMPERATIVE TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER POTENTIAL INFLOW OF ILLEGALS. I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THEREFORE
THAT THE ADOPTION OF A FIRM LINE IN THESE TWO TEST CASES WILI. HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON FURTHER ATTEMPTS, WE SHALL, OF COURSE, BEAR THE USUAL, HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND.
ROBERTS
FILES HKD (3)
SEAD
SAD
MR CORTAZZI
MR MALE
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