TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 159

IMMEDIATE

CYFHER CAT A

GP5350

FM FC 0 3110007

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 676 OF 31/0

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

160

HRK 243/1

165

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

а

INDEA

OFFICER

PA

REG. #Y

Action Teven

HONG KONG TELNOS 1040 AND 1041 AND ORR'S LETTER OF

25 AUGUST TO PATERSON: REFUGEES TROM VIETRAM.

(157

iCLE

1. WE WISH HONG KONG 'ELL AT THEIR MEETING ON 5 SEPTEMBER IN SEEK LAG FROM SELECTED COUNTRIES A WIDER RESPONSE TO THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM THERE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE LIBERAL ATTITUDE HONG KONG IS TAKING TO THIS PROBLEM AND ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE HEAVY DURDEN THE REFUGEES 'POSE.

2. AT THIS STAGE WE DO NOT THINK IT APPROPRIATE TO TAKE DIRECT SUPPORTING ACTING IN CAPITALS. THE UK'S OWN INTAKE FROM HONG KONG HAS NOT YET MATCHED THAT OF MANY OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES HONG KONG WILL DE APPROACHING. UKIS GENEVA HAVE DISCRETION TO APPROACH INFORMALLY DEREVA NISSIONS OF THOSE COUNTRIES INVITED TO THE HONG KONG DEETING WITH A VIEW TO ENCOURAGING THER TO DRAW THE MEETING TO THE ATTENTION OF THEIR CAPITALS AND TO GENERATE SYMPATHY FOR HONG KONG'S SPECIAL PROBLEMS OVER VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

3. OUR CUARANTEE TO THE TAIWANESE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ''AVON FOREST'' REFUGEES HOLDS GOOD. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CANADIANS FOR AGREEING TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FROM

THIS GROUP AND TO HONG KONG FOR AGREEING TO ALLOW THEM TO

· TRANSIT HONG KONG. WE SHALL DO OUR BEST TO BRING TO THE UK

WITHIN ONE WEEK ANY OF THE CROUP NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE CANADIANS

BUT, DEPENDING ON THE NUNDERS INVOLVED, WE MAY HEED A LITTLE LEE-WAY (PERHAPS OF SOME DAYS). IN PLACING THER WITH THE

VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HERE.

CONFIDENTIAL..

14.

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