RESTRICTED
FM BANGKOK 060430Z NOV 78
TO ROUTINE FCO
TEL NO 425 OF 6/11/78
RESTRICTED
So 283 26.9 PA HKK 243/1
* AMENDED COPY 10 NOVEMBER
INFO TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND UKMIS GENEVA
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY HO. 51
10 NOV 1978 ·
262
F
TRY
YOUR TEL NO 287: PACIFIC CONVEYOR REFUGEES,
INDEX
PA
Action
en
1. WE HAVE DISCUSSED PRESENT POSITION IN DETAIL WITH UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE. HE SAID THAT MOST OF THIS GROUP LEFT VIETNAM WITH THE CLEAR INTENTION OF JOINING THEIR RELATIVES IN UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA. IT WAS MAINLY THESE WHO DECLINED FRENCH OFFER WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE VESSELS ARRIVAL IN BANGKOK.
2, THE SITUATION HAS NOW HAD TIME TO CRYSTALLISE.OF
THE 106 REMAINING ON BOARD 81 HAVE SOME SORT OF CONNEXION WITH
*ARER THE UNITED STATES OR AUSTRALIA, AND 25/UNCONNECTED, 12 HAVE NOW SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RESETTLE IN FRANCE IF ACCEPTED.
3.THE UNITED STATES HAVE NOW AGREED TO TAKE 28 OF REMAINING 31 WHO HAVE RELATIVES THERE.OUT OF 50 CLAIMING RELATIVES IN AUSTRALIA 15 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN PUT TO CANBERRA FOR APPROVAL AND A REPLY IS EXPECTED TODAY. OF THE 35 REMAINING, 25 CLAIM RELATIONSHIP TO AN ARTISTE WHO DOES NOT HAVE PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS THERE,
4. CURRENT POSITION OF 106 ABOARD, THEREFORE, IS:
28 ACCEPTED US A #15 HOPEFULLY ACCEPTABLE TO AUSTRALIA 63 UNACCOUNTED. THE FRENCH HAVE AGREED TO GO ON BOARD
TODAY AND TO INTERVIEW THE 63 WHO ARE UNCONNECTED OR
WHOSE CONNEXIONS ARE IN DOUBT.
TRIPP
FILE S:
UND
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
SEAD
PS/MR LUARD
HK & G D MVD NEWS D
MR CORTAZZI
MR WEIR
MR FIGG
MR STRATTON
RESTRICTED
COPIES TO:
MR C. BIRT,HOME OFFICE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
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