CONFIDENTIAL
YOU SHOULD THEREFORE PROCEED TO KAOHSIUNG AFTER SAFETY EQUIPMENT
AND SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON BOARD.''
8. THE PRESENT INTENTION OF THE H.K.G IS TO INFORM THE ROC OF ITS
POSITION VIA THE TAIPEH OFFICE OF CARITAS.
9. THE H.K.G HAS TOLD US THAT ITS POLICY ON THE 300 REFUGEES OF
VIETNAMESE ORIGIN IS AS FOLLOWS:
(A)
THE U.S CONSULATE-GENERAL WILL BE ASKED TO INTERVIEW THEM IMMEDIATELY ON ARRIVAL FROM TAIWAN. THOSE WHO COME UNDER CATEGORIES 1 AND 2 OF THE LRP WILL BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN H.K UNDER STANDARD UNHCR GUARANTEES, PENDING THEIR RESETTLEMENT IN THE U.S AS NUMBERS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE H.K.G HOPES THAT NUMBERS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE QUICKLY BUT APPRECIATES THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH THE U.S GOVERNMENT HAS IN ALLOWING SPECIAL
CASES TO QUEUE-JUMP.
(B) THE REMAINING REFUGEES WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN
H.K FOR A SHORT TRANSIT PERIOD WHILE ONWARD MOVEMENT IS ARRANGED TO A DESTINATION OTHER THAN THE U.S. THE H.K.G IS ASKING THE U.K GOVERNMENT EITHER TO ACCEPT THESE REFUGEES WITHIN ABOUT SEVEN DAYS OF THEIR ARRIVAL OR TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THIRD COUNTRIES TO RECEIVE THEM WITHIN A SIMILAR PERIOD. (C) THE H.K.G'S WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE THESE 300 REFUGEES IN
TRANSIT FROM TAIWAN IS NOT CONDITIONAL ON FAVOURABLE RESPONSES FROM THE U.S OR U.K GOVERNMENTS. HOWEVER,
HOWEVER, IF FAVOURABLE RESPONSES ARE NOT FORTHCOMING, THE H.K.G DOUBTS ITS ABILITY TO
MAINTAIN ITS PRESENT POLICY CF LANDING ALL REFUGEES WHO REACH H.K AS THE FIRST PORT OF CALL.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
UND
COPIES TO:
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS SIR A DUFF
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
LONDON
SEAD
HK & GD FED
NEWS D
MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY
MR LEAHY
SAD
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
3 CONFIDENTIAL
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