GR 240
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 051846Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE MANILA
TELNO 6 OF 5 JANUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
FROM CORTAZZI (34)
CONFIDENTIAL
See E
HKK 243
No
243/1
NE
特
53
(5.2)
YOUR TELNOS 6 AND 8: TUNG AN
1. I AM CONSCIOUS OF THE DIFFICULT SITUATION IN WHICH YOU ARE PLACED AND I AGREE IT WOULD BE BEST TO CONTINUE TO STALL FOR A FEW DAYS IF POSSIBLE. DESPITE THE RISK THAT THE FILIPINO AUTHORITIES MAY FORCE THE TUNG AN TO LEAVE FOR HONG KONG, I AM AFRAID THAT' THERE IS VERY LITTLE PROSPECT OF OUR OFFERING ANY RESETTLEMENT
PLACES HERE EITHER FOR REFUGEES ABOARD THE TUNG AN OR FOR THOSE
NOW IN CAMPS IN MANILA, OTHER THAN FOR THOSE
4
·
WHO HAVE CLOSE TIES WITH THE UK AND THOSE RESCUED BY UK REGISTERED
VESSELS LIKE THE ANCO, SCEPTRE. THE SITUATION IS, AS YOU KNOW,
COMPLICATED BY THE SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH THE HUEY FONG POSES FOR
HONG KONG. THE HUEY FONG REFUGEES WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE LANDED EVENTUALLY (HONG KONG TELNO 39) IN WHICH CASE OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN THERE WILL BE FURTHER INCREASED. WE ALSO
HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN
THAILAND AND MALAYSIA WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE FAR GREATER THAN IN
THE PHILIPPINES. WE ARE PRESSING THE HOME OFFICE HARD TO ADMIT
FURTHER GROUPS OF REFUGEES ESPECIALLY FROM HONG KONG.
2. WE ARE IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE HOME AND THE BRITISH COUNCIL
FOR AID TO REFUGEES ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ADMITTING THE 24
ANCO SCEPTRE REFUGEES AT ONCE TO BRITAIN AND HOPE TO TELEGRAPH
SEPARATELY ON THIS, EITHER TODAY OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WEEKEND. OWEN
FILES UND
COPIES TO
:
HK & GD
SEAD
FED
NEWS D.
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
FS/MR LUARD
FS/PUS
MR CORTAZZI ·
MR MURRAY
MR WEIR
MR LEAHY
MR C BIRT HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE MR P BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE QUEEN
ANNE'S GATE
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
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