CONFIDENTIAL
THESE ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IN THAT CASE WE WILL LE
THE SHIP WHERE IT IS FOR SOME TIME (PROVIDING SUPPLIES AND HEDICAL AID WHEN NECESSARY), THIS IS ESSENTIAL AS A DETERRENT BOTH
AGAINST THOSE WHO TRY TO BLACKMAIL US INTO BREAKING THE FIRST
PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE AND AGAINST THOSE RUNNING WHAT IS CLEARLY
A RACKET OF PAID PASSAGES.
5. ULTIMATELY WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO ACCEPT AND DEAL WITH THOSE
ON BOARD, THEY WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE ADDED TO THE 5,000 PLUS REFUGEES WE ALREADY HAVE AWAITING RESETTLEMENT, OVER HALF OF WHOM
HAVE ALREADY BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS, (THIS TOO HAS
TO BE SEEN AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT MASSIVE INFLUX, 53 CHINA AND THE PROSPECT OF MORE ETHNIC CHINESE FROM VIETNAM
STAGING THROUGH CHINA TO HERE.) IF THAT HAPPENS WE WILL NEED
URGENT COMMITMENTS TO TAKE SOME OF THE REFUGEE BURDEN OFF
OUR HANDS. WE WOULD NOT WISH THESE TO BE APPLIED TO THOSE ON BOARD
THE HUEY FONG SINCE THAT WILL ONLY ENCOURAGE SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN
FUTURE. INSTEAD, ANY COMMITMENTS TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL PLACES
TO REFUGEES SHOULD GO TO THOSE ALREADY HERE.
6. MEANWHILE WE ARE CONSIDERING HOW TO ADJUST OUR FIRST PORT
OF CALL POLICY TO MEET THE NEW SITUATION, IT WAS DESIGNED TO DEAL
WITH SMALL BOAT REFUGEES AND THOSE IN GENUINE DANGER OF
DROWNING AT SEA. IT IS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE TO THE PRESENT
SITUATION WHERE, ALMOST CERTAINLY, LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE
PAYING TO BE PICKED UP, WE WILL HAVE TO DEVISE A MEANS TO
DISCOURAGE THIS TRAFFIC, WE WILL KEEP YOU IN TOUCH WITH OUR
THINKING ON THIS.
FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING HANOI,
MACLEHOSE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
FILES
ND
HK & GD
SEAD
FED
SAD
E1D
POSD
OID
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS PS/MR, LUARD
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
MR.CORTAZZI ·
MR, WEIR
MR. MURRAY
MR.STRATTON
COPIES TO: HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE IN LONDON
IPD
NEWS D M & VD
MR. LEAHY
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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