TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 23

OP SARILA

JAKARTA

HKIL 243!!

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338

RECEIVED IN RESHIT. 51 Pr/Lord Soreang - Roberts

1 1 DEC 1978

HANOI (VIENTIAN PLEASE HAS B

CRS 320

CONFIDENTIAL

DESK OFFICER

INDEN

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PM PARIS 071249Z DEC 78

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

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25/Mr Ruard. TAODOS / PUS 4 CHE Vice Weir

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 1025 OF 07 DECEMBER

TO SEAD)

1 AKG D

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INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA HONG KONG BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR

SINGAPORE MANILA JAKARTA

330

HANOI

2841 TO WASHINGTON[ ? ]

YOUR TELNO 12TI OF 04 DECEMBER,

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IMMEDIATE

INDO CHINA REFUGEES

1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS AT THE QUAI D'ORSAY INVOLVED IN PREPARING THE MEETING ON 11/12 DECEMBER. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FRENCH DO NOT (NOT) WISH THE MEETING TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH PURELY POLITICAL ISSUES AND HOULD NEITHER INTRODUCE NOR SUPPORT ANY RESOLUTION CRITICAL OF VIETNAM. THE FRENCH DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY N DANIEL HOEFFEL WHO IS MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF HEALTH WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS, AND EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE FRENCH TO CONCENTRATE THE MEETING'S ATTENTION ON THE PRESSING PRACTICAL HUMANITARIAM AND SCCIAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE REFUGEES,

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2. THE QUAI SEEM FULLY TO APPRECIATE THE BRIT SH POSITION AND VERE PARTICULARLY SYMPATHETIC OVER OUR PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG, BEFORE ALL THE RUMPUS IN THE PRESS ABOUT THE HAI HONG, THE FRENCH HAD DEEN THINKING OF REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES WHOM THEY WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT : BUT PUBLIC OPINION HERE HAD LEEN MUCH AFFECTED BY PUBLICITY OVER THE HAT LONG AND ANY IDEA CF A MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICY HAD BEEN DROPPED. THE QUAI INDICATED THAT THEIR DECISION HAD BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES WHO IS CURRENTLY IN PARIS (THE QUAL EMPHASISED THAT HE HAD NOT COME SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, SINCE THE VISIT HAD BEEN ARRANGED SOME TIME BEFORE AS A PART OF HARTLING'S INTRODUCTORY WORLD TOUR ).

2.

THE FRENCH ARE CONSIDERING WAYS OF DOING MORE FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES BY SEEKING CUR PEOPLE IN CAMPS IN THAILAND WHO MIGHT QUALIFY FOR ENTRY TO FRANCE. THEY HAVE ALSO GIVEN AND UNDERTAKING TO ACCEPT ANYONE WHO IS RESCUED DY FRENCH SHIPS, AND SAY THEY WILL HE PREPARED TO CONSIDER OTHER WAYS OF HELPING IN THE LIGHT