TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 138

PS

CONFIDENTIAL

:

People here, myself included, find it extremely difficult to understand why it should take the various bodies concerned in the UK so long to arrange for the reception of the group of 61, particularly because

a) contingency plans were already made

for the 40 "Avon Forest" refugees to be received within about 7 days if necessary;

and

b)

as I understand from our telephone conversation about the "American Mohawk", if we had suggested that the US should receive 171 refugees within 7 days the UK would have been willing to back up such a request.

We fully realise the reception problems and ve remain, of course, grateful for the offer to . take the 61. However, there is an

understandable impression here that organisations in the UK do not attach great urgency to the problem. It would be a pity to allow that impression to grow.

:

CONFIDENTIAL

!