TNAG-0878-FCO40-1088-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 86

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DESKBY 161200Z (FCO AND UKMIS GENEVA)

FM HONG KONG 161120Z JAN 79

TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

TELNO.3 OF 16 JANUARY,

HKK RELEVAD

INDEX

243/1

......

∙RO. S

17 JAN 1979

No

2781.

AND TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0(FOR SIMPSON-ORELEBAR, U.N.D),

tion

en

Or

INFO PRIORITY: WASHINGTON, PEKING, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

59

MY TELNO.74 (ONLY TO SIMPSON-ORLEBAR) : ''HUEY FONG’’

1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NOW HAVE A COPY OF REFTEL, PARA.6 SUB-PARA (11) OF WHICH RAISES THE POSSIBILITY OF A GREATER UNHCR

PRESENCE IN TAIWAN. IN THE CONTEXT OF A FINAL PUSH WHICH WE ARE MAKING OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO PERSUADE THE ''HUEY FONG?' TO GO TO TAIWAN, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IF UNHCR COULD PROVISIONALLY AUTHORISE ONE OF THEIR OFFICIALS, PREFERABLY RASANAYAGAM, TO GO TO TAIWAN IF THE SHIP IS ALLOWED TO LAND ITS

REFUGEES THERE.

}

2. UNLESS YOU OR F.C.O SEE OBJECTION, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF

YOU WOULD PUT THIS SUGGESTION URGENTLY TO THE UNHCR, IF IT IS ACCEPTED, WE CAN USE IT IN OUR FINAL ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE SHIP ON. IF POSSIBLE WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR A REPLY DESKBY 180200Z.

3. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH RASANAYAGAM WHO HAS NO OBJECTION TO YOUR APPROACHING THE UNHCR NOR TO YOUR SAYING SO AND ADDING

THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO FLY TO TAIWAN, HE MAY BE MAKING A SIMILAR SUGGESTION HIMSELF AND WE SHALL REPORT IMMEDIATELY WE KNOW IF HE INTENDS TO DO SO.

MACLEHOSE

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COPIES TO

UND

PS

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

HK & GD

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SEAD

PS/MR LUARD

MR BURLEIGH

HOME OFFICE

FED

PS/PUS

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

SIR A DUFF

MR BIRT

MR CORTAZZI

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LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

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MR WEIR

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MR MURRAY

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