TNAG-0587-FCO40-720-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 137

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UNDER NEW MINISTRY OF JUSTICE REGULATIONS REFUGEES ARE NOW PERMITTED TO LAND FOR ONLY 30 DAYS BUT THE MFA HAVE STATED THAT THEY MAY BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE OVER THIS. THUS IS MAY BE

POSSIBLE TO PROCESS THE 20 MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WHO WISH TO GO TO THE US DURING THE 30 DAY PERIOD, ALTHOUGH CUSHING'S REMARKS SUGGEST THEY WOULD STAND A BETTER CHANCE IF THEY WERE SENT TO HONG KONG. THE DUTCH AND NORWEGIAN EXPERIENCE IS THAT PROCESSING

OFTEN TAKES MORE THAN 30 DAYS. AS FOR THE REMAINING 13 REFUGEES WHO EXPRESSED THE WISH TO CO TO CANADA, NOTHING MUCH CAN BE DONE

FOR THEM UNTIL THEIR ALTERNATIVE PREFERRED DESTINATIONS AND OTHER

DETAILS ARE KNOWN.

5. THE AGENTS HAVE REMINDED US THAT NO PROPER LIVING ACCOMM- ODATION EXIST ON BOARD AND THAT THE REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY BEEN

ON THE SHIP FOR NEARLY THREE WEEKS, THE SHIP IS NOW DUE IN KORE ON 23 SEPTEMBER AND WILL DEPART MIZUSHIMA FOR SINGAPORE ON 25 SEPTEMBER A VOYAGE OF APPROXIMATELY MINE DAYS,

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GRATEFUL FOR IMMEDIATE INSTRUCTIONS,

WILFORD.

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PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

MR CORTAZZI

MR MALE

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