TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 128

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4. GIVEN THE BACKGROUND TO THE VESSELS SUDDEN APPEARANCE THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN TAKING A CAUTIOUS LINE BECAUSE OF INTENSE SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER THE VIETNAMESE ARE GENUINE REFUGEES. SAMPATKUMAR DECLINED TO COMMENT AFTER HIS INITIAL

CONSIDER THEIR TALKS WITH THE PASSENGERS, UNTIL HE HAD TIME TO STORIES. HE IS NOW REPORTED BY THE (NEXT THREE WORDS UNDERLINED) NEW STRAIGHTS TIMES AS HAVING ACCEPTED THAT THEY ARE INDEED GENUINE REFUGEES WHO QUALIFY FOR UNHCR HELP AND TO BE PLEADING WITH THE MALAYSIAN AUTHORITIES TO LET THE VIETNAMES ASHORE,

SEE MIFT

HAWLEY

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FILES

UND

SEAD

HK & GD

MVD

FED

MAED

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

PS/MR LUARD)

MR CORTAZZI

MR WEIR

MR MURRAY

COPIES TO

MR C BIRT HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

LONDON

MR SLIGHT SHIPPING POLICY DIVN

I

DOT

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