TNAG-0879-FCO40-1089-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 110

CODE 18-77

NOTE FOR FILE

RESTRICTED

Reference

192

HKCK 243/1

Шок

1.2 CARD BAGAY NO. fur william,

23 JAN 1979

OFFICER

layi

RAG

Jssto A

VIETNAMESE BOAT REFUGEES

No

PA

C

224111AE

1. Mr MacInnes (UkMis Geneva) telephoned last Friday to say the Americans wished to propose to the UNIICR that they investigate the possibility of establishing an island transit camp for Vietnamese boat people. The Americans believed the Indonesians might be prepared to provide such an island since, at the end of the day, they would have a developed island with a useful infrastructure including houses, schools etc, which would initially be built at UNIICR's expense to cope with the refugees. The Americans had asked us to support their request to the UNHCR.

2. I told Mr MacInnes that we had misgivings about the idea. Nevertheless, it was right that it should at least be investigated to establish the pros and cons. I said we could support the American approach to the UNIICR but without commitment at this stage with regard to whether or not the UK would favour the setting up of such a transit centre.

3. The Americans will speak to Mr Hatling today on this.

!

22 January 1979

P Morgan

UN Department

CC: SEAD

HK&GD

FED

Chanceries:

Washington

Jakarta

UKMIS New York