GRPS 240
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
川
REGISTRY NO. 51
CYPHER CAT A
2 AUG 1976
FM UKMIS GENEVA 3011102
PIGO
(243/
CONFIDENTIAL
Goi
RANGOON, TOKYO AND
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 244 OF 30 JULY INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PRIORITY WASHINGTON, ROUTINE KUALA LUMPUR, VIENTIANE TO PASS SAVING TO HANOI.
HONG KONG TELNO 757: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
LAST
REF.
REXT
REF.
(110) (114)
1. WHEN A MEMBER OF MY STAFF GAVE THE UNHCR OFFICE THE ADVANCE TEXT OF HONG KONG'S PROPOSED PRESS RELEASE, THEY EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WOULD HELP SAMPATKUMAR TO FIND QUICKLY TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR THE REFUGEES, E.G. IN PENSIONS OR SMALL HOTELS, ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UNHCR WOULD MEET THE COSTS, THEY ARGUED THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE REFUGEES AND OF THE SHIP OWNERS, WHO ARE PROB- ABLY ALREADY INCURRING DEMURRAGE CHARGES, FOR THE DISEMBARKATION TO BE ARRANGED SOON AND FOR THE 'AVA'' TO SAIL.
2. AS REGARDS PARAGRAPHS 5 AND 6 OF HONG KONG TUR, THE UNHCR OFFICE SAY THAT THEY WILL NOT ACTIVELY SEEK TO PUBLICISE THE PROPOSED SCHEME. BUT UTMOST SECRECY SEEMS TO ME AN UNREAL- 01 ISTIC DEMAND. AS REPORTED IN MY TELNO 234, THE HIGH COMMISSIONER GAVE OUTLINES OF HIS PROPOSALS AT AN OPEN MEETING OF GENEVA REP- RESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF HIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON 25 JUNE. A FOLLOW-UP LETTER WILL BE ADDRESSED TO AROUND 30 GOVERNMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS IN THIS SCHEME. HOWEVER, I COULD CERTAINLY STRESS TO UNHCR THE IMPORTANCE FROM EVERYONE'S POINT OF VIEW OF AVOIDING ANY PUBLICITY LIKELY TO OVER- STRETCH THE CAPACITY OF WHATEVER INTERNATIONAL SCHEME CAN BE DEVISED. DO YOU WISH ME TO DO THIS?
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PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD MR LARMOUR MR CORTAZZI
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
MR RUSHFORD LEGAL ADVISERS MR KIDD HKGO 6 GRAFTON ST MR MCDOWALL HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON MR BRENNAN HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
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