TNAG-0878-FCO40-1088-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 41

GD

47

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FI HANOI 15070OZ JAN 79

TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 27 OF 15 JAN ·

HKK 2+3/1

HALVED IN RECARY RO. 51

AND TO HONG KONG BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR CANBERRA MANI ZAJSNGAPORE

UKMIS GENEVA WASHINGTON.

731

MIPT. VIETNAMESE EMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.

INDEX

P

No

1. ONE EFFECT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL PROBABLY BE TO EASE THE ADMIN PROBLEMS WHICH WE (IN CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG),

AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IN FAMILY REUNIFICATION SCHEMES.

BUT THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS CANNOT AFFECT BOAT REFUGEES AS

THEIR SITUATION IS PRIMARILY GOVERNED BY THE LACK OF ENTRY

VISAS TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

2. IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL OPINION, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL

ENABLE VIETNAM TO IMPROVE POSITION GREATLY. SHE CAN NOW

SAY ''WE ARE PREPARED TO LET VIRTUALLY ANYONE LEAVE VIETNAM,

IT IS UP TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO ISSUE THEM WITH VISAS. IF THEY,

RY

en

CLE

AND THE PEOPLE NEVERTHELESS LEAVE BY BOAT, THAT IS NOT OUR FAULT",

FCO PASS ALL.

MARGETSON

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

153

FILES

SEAD

- UND

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS FS/MR LUARD

PS/FUS

HK & GD

FED

SAD

SIR A DUFF

EID (E)

MR CORTAZZI

PUSD

MR WEIR

OID

MR MURRAY

IPD

NEWS D

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE

MR BIRT

LONDON

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

MVD

CONFIDENTIAL