TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 235

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POSSIBLE NEXT WEEK, ON THE FOREIGN MINISTER. THEY WOULD WOULD EMPHASISE THEIR WISH TO AVOID CONFRONTATION AND TO RESOLVE ANY DIFFICULTIES BY DISCUSSION, TO THAT END, THEY WOULD REQUEST THAT THE NEW RESTRICTIVE MEASURES BE LIFTED AND OFFER TO EXPLORE WITH THE SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES WAYS OF MEETING:

(A) SINGAPORE'S OBJECTIVE OF KEEPING NUMBERS OF REFUGEES IN TRANSIT WITHIN BOUNDS: AND

(B) THE WIDER OBJECTIVE OF HANDLING THE PROBLEM OF THE BOAT PEOPLE HUMANELY AND REASONABLY HAVING REGARD TO THE GENUINE DIFFICULTIES OF SOME COUNTRIES OF ULTIMATE DESTINATION.

6 I PROPOSE TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THIS INITIATIVE UNLESS INSTRUCTED BY 1 NOVEMBER TO THE CONTRARY.

FCO PASS SAVING TO HONG KONG AND HANOI.

HENNINGS

FILES

UND

SEAD

HK & GD

MVD

FUSD

NEWS D

OID

PS

PS/MR LUARD

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

MR GRAHAM

MR WEIR

MR STRATTON

MR CORTAZZI

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

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