GPS 140A
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 09140OZ
FM
0913OOZ JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO 5 OF 9 JANAURY
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
(58
YOUR TELNO 4: HUEY FONG
CONFIDENTIAL
See 3
HKK 243/1
RALEIVED IN REJSTRY MQ. 51 1 1 JAN 1979
DESK OF INDEX
No IM
12/1
REGATRY Action T
1. YOU WILL HAVE NOTED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 39 THE WAY HONG
KONG'S THINKING IS DEVELOPING, BUT WE SHOULD NOT REPEAT NOT WISH
YOU AT THIS STAGE TO INDICATE TO THE HIGH COMMISSIONER WHAT HONG
KONG HAVE IN MIND.
2. PLEASE UNDERLINE TO HARTLING THAT WE SEE THE HUEY FONG PROBLEM
AS PART OF A WIDER PROBLEM, WHICH WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. HONG KONG, WHILE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS TO THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES ON THE
HUEY FONG, NEEDS TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY THE IMPLICATIONS OF ITS TREATMENT OF THESE REFUGEES FOR THE FUTURE.
HONG KONG ALREADY HAS UNIQUE DIFFICULTIES OVER- REFUGEES AND
WOULD RISK PLACING HERSELF IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION IF SHE
BECAME WIDELY REGARDED AS A SOFT OPTION FOR A FUTURE ORGANISED
EXODUS BY SHIP FROM VIETNAM. THE ONLY LONG TERM REMEDY IS FOR
PRESSURE TO BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON VIETNAM TO REGULATE THE FLOW:
HARTLING HIMSELF HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY HERE.
3. EFFORTS TO PERSUADE TAIWAN TO AGREE TO LAND THE HUEY FONG
REFUGEES HAVE MET WIH NO SUCCESS AND YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM
HONG KONG TELNO 45 THAT THE PANAMANIANS HAVE DISCLAIMED ANY RES-
PONSIBILITY FOR THEM. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY ON RESETTLEMENT PLACES (PARA 3 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REFERENCE) BEFORE THE MEETING ON 16 JANUARY. 4. SINCE DRAFTING THE ABOVE, WE HAVE SEEN HONG KONG TELS NOS
64 AND 65 PLEASE MAKE THE ADDITIONAL POINTS IN PARA 2 OF TELNO
64 AND PARA 5 OF TELNO 65. OWEN
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
MR BIRT
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
FILES
UND
SAD.
EID (E)
FUSD
OID
FK & GD
SEAD
FED
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
MR WEIR
MR MURRAY
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD
MR CORTAZZI
IPD
NEWS D MVD
CONFIDENTIAL
72
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