CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
HKK 243
2 MAR TO
22
80.51
D C Wilson Esq
Political Adviser
Government Secretariat
HONG KONG
Telephone 01-
INDE-
No
Your reference
J
TY
cen
MI
Our reference
Date
1 March 1978
REFUGEE FLIGHTS FROM HO CHI MINH CITY
1.
The UNHCR representative in London has approached us about the possibility of using the current CPA flights from Ho Chi Minh City to bring out of Vietnam further groups of refugees.
2.
Those concerned would be either Cambodian refugees in Vietnam or Vietnamese nationals who have permission to leave to allow families to be reunited. Most of them would be bound for the USA and, apart from the flight, UNHCR will need somewhere where they could be processed. They have, therefore, asked if it will be possible for any who were to be flown out by CPA to remain in Hong Kong temporarily until they and the American authorities have made arrangements for onward travel. Should any refugees be refused by the US authorities UNHCR have promised to give an undertaking to remove them from Hong Kong as soon as possible.
3.
These requests have been made now because the current UNHCR arrangements using Air France, we understand, Bangkok are about to end.
4. We have deliberately refrained from giving UNHCR any indication that their requests will be met. I realise that this is asking a lot, even if it is practical for the Hong Kong Government to agree, but I am passing on the requests because I can see at least two definite advantages which might result if you could agree.
5. Obviously, UNHCR would be extremely grateful if agreement were to be given and this should help to cement their relationship with the Hong Kong Government which, as I understand it, is already good. Similarly, one would expect the US authorities to welcome your co- operation and they might well reciprocate by speeding up the acceptance procedures for refugees already in Hong Kong.
6.
I should be grateful for your comments as soon as is feasible.
cc: British Embassy, Hanoi
Mr P Morgan (UND) Mr C Humfrey (SEAD)
CONFIDENTIAL
J Thompson
Hong Kong & General Dept
Page 195Page 196
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