CONFIDENTIAL
.3. WHEN PRESS RELEASE IS MADE HERE, DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WILL
COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
BEGINS :-
''THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED NATIONS AND FROM THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND FRANCE HAS BEEN MOST GRATIFYING, AND I AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO LAND THESE REFUGEES TEMPORARILY IN HONG KONG.
ENDS.
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HE WILL ALSO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MASTER OF THE 'AVA' AND HIS CREW FOR LOOKING AFTER THE REFUGEES SO WELL DURING THE PAST TRYING WEEKS.
4. CANADIANS APPEAR TO BE ON THE POINT OF AUTHORISING ENTRY TO CANADA FOR 16 OF THE REFUGEES. U.S. CONSULATE-GENERAL ARE DOCUMENTING POTENTIAL ENTRANTS AS FAST AS THEY CAN. FOUR OF THE SIX FOR FRANCE HAVE ALREADY DEPARTED.
5. WHEN SAMPATKUMAR ARRIVES, WE WILL IMPRESS ON HIM THE NEED FOR THE UTMOST SECRECY ABOUT U.N.H.C.R.'S PROPOSALS FOR DEALING WITH SHIP-BOARD REFUGEES IN FUTURE. UNLESS SUCH SECRECY IS PRESERVED BY THE U.N.H.C.R.'S OFFICE IN GENEVA AND OTHERS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENCOURAGING A FURTHER REFUGEE STREAM FROM VIETNAM. APART FROM GIVING PROBLEMS TO US FOR THE REASONS SET OUT IN MY TELEGRAM NO 702, IT COULD ALSO PROVE HIGHLY EMBARRASSING FOR THE OTHER REGIONAL PARTICIPANTS IN ANY U.N.H.C.R. SCHEME.
6. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COULD ALSO HAVE AN UNFORTUNATE IMPACT ON U.K./VIETNAM RELATIONS. IN THIS CONNECTION, D T I WILL CONFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT JEOPARDISING CURRENT EFFORTS TO SECURE
OVERFLYING RIGHTS.
MACLEHOSE
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD MR DARMOUR
FILES:
HKD
SEAD
UND
NAM D
NEWS D FED
MR CORTAZZI
2
COPIES TO:
MR RUSHFORD LEGAL ADVISER MR KIDD HKGO 6 GRAFTON ST MR MCDOWALL HOME OFFICE MR DENMAN HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
CONFIDENTIAL
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