TNAG-0586-FCO40-719-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 17

CONFIDENTIAL

cc:

PS/Mr Luard

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Goldsmith (SEAD)

Mr Morgan (UND)

Mr Martin (FED)

Mr Priestley (News)

Mr Rushford (Legal Adviser)

As Mr O'Keeffe says, this is a difficult decision

and much depends on the attitude of the Americans. At my request Mr O'Keeffe has again discussed with Mr Sykes of the US Embassy. The American position is that it is not legally possible for them to enter into a commitment without seeing the refugees: but the political reality is such that it seems to the Embassy highly likely that they williin fact be admitted to the US. In these circumstances I agree with the draft telegram.

Extanser

26 July 1976

CONFIDENTIAL

E N Larmour