TNAG-0586-FCO40-719-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 34

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3. THE DISADVANTAGES OF LANDING THE GROUP IN HONG KONG WITHOUT

CATEGORICAL ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL ALL FIND PERMANENT HOMES

ELSEWHERE WERE SET CUT IN PARA. 1 OF MY TELNO. 702. WE ARE LETTING U.S. CONSUL-GENERAL KNOW THAT WE REGRETTABLY CANNOT

BUDGE FROM THE POSITION SET OUT IN PARA. 5 OF MY TELNO. 717, AND THAT WE ARE FORMALLY REFUSING PERMISSION TO LAND.

4. MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE. MASTER OF 'AVA' IS SATISFIED THAT SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES OF FOOD, WATER AND LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT ARE AVAILABLE TO GET THE SHIP TO YOKOHAMA.

5. ON RANGOON TELNO. 116, WE SEE NO HARM IN APPROACH SUGGESTED BY HM AMBASSADOR, SUBJECT TO FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON HIS PARA. 4:

(A) WE THINK IT WOULD BE FRUITLESS TO ASK PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST FLED FROM VIETNAM IF THEY WISH TO RETURN THERE (POINT 4(C)):

(B) HIS POINT IN 4(D) IS IMPRACTICABLE IF IT MEANS THAT THE UNHCR MUST FIND ALTERNATIVE SETTLEMENT FOR REFUGEES WITHIN SEVEN DAYS

OFF THEIR ARRIVAL IN BURMA.

6. ON PARA. 3 OF RANGOON T.U.R., THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS HERE

THAT THE BURMESE ARE CONTEMPLATING RETURNING THE GROUP INWILLINGLY

TO VIETNAM. BUT IF WE RECEIVED EVIDENCE OF SUCH AN INTENTION WE

WOULD RECONSIDER.

7. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE FRENCH, CANADIAN, AUSTRALIAN AND WEST

GERMAN MISSIONS AND OFFERED FACILITIES FOR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

TO GO ON BOARD 'AVA' TO INTERVIEW THE VIETNAMESE, FRENCH CONSUL-

GENERAL HAS JUST INFORMED US THAT HIS CONSULAR TEAM HAVE FOUND

FIVE ADULT REFUGEES AND ONE CHILD OF THE SAME FAMILY WHO APPEAR

ELIGIBLE TO GO TO FRANCE, WHERE A RELATIVE RUNS A RESTAURANT.

THE FRENCH ARE CABLING PARIS IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE TOLD CONSUL-

GENERAL THAT IF HE CAN GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THESE SIX WILL

DEFINITELY BE AFFORDED ENTRY INTO FRANCE, BEFORE THE 'AVA'

SAILS NEXT WEEK, WE WILL LAND THEM. IF THE UNDERTAKING DOES NOT ARRIVE IN TIME, THE SIX COULD BE DISEMBARKED AT YOKOHAMA.

FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING TO HANOI.

ROBERTS

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

FILE S HKD

FED

NAM D

UND

SEAD

NEWS D

MR CORTAZZI

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