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CONFIDENTIAL
149
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IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM TOKYO 210830Z OCT
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 843/332L,
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 1 OCT 1977
*EGISTRY
on Tabo
No.
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TEL NO 99 OF 21-177
INFO PRIORITY FCO UKMIS GENEVA
48 YOUR TELNO 54% VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A CALL ON THE MFA TODAY TO SPEAK AS
IN TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. THE MFA AT ONCE EXPRESSED THEIR
GRATITUDE FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT
THE REFUGEES ON THE JAPANESE TUG ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.
2. THE MFA SEEMED BAFFLED, HOWEVER, BY OUR REPORT THAT THE THIRD
COUNTRY GUARANTEE OFFERED BY THE JAPANESE HAD NOT BEEN CONSIDERED.
NECESSARY BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES. ACCORDING TO THE MFA'S
INFORMATION, THE JAPANESE CONSULATE-GENERAL HAD BEEN REQUESTED TO
GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD ASSUME FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE DEPARTURE OF THE REFUGEES IF THERE WERE ANY LEFT. AFTER 90 DAYS.
THIS ASSURANCE WAS GIVEN ORALLY ON 14 OCTOBER AND IN WRITING ON
19 OCTOBER. SINCE WE COULD NOT RECONCILE THIS WITH OUR OWN INFORM-
ATION, WE AGREED TO CHECK WITH YOU.
3. WE ASSUME THAT THE CONSULATE-GENERAL MISUNDERSTOOD SOMETHING
WHICH WAS SAID TO THEM. WE WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU
COULD SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE SITUATION.
GIFFARD
FILES
HK&GD
FED
SEAD
MR.CORTAZZI
MR.MURRAY
CONFIDENTIAL
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