GRS 210
ONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTAL
FV. BRASILIA 23:1939Z JAN 79
·
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 31 OF 23 JANUARY
INFO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)
YAL
HKK 243/1
(201) YOUR TELNO 36 TO CANBERRA.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
No
Qr
See 229
1. I SPOKE THIS MORNING TO SECRETARY GENERAL, MFA, AS INSTRUCTED.
2. HE SAID BRAZILIAN CONSUL-GENERAL HONG KONG HAD ALREADY REPORTED ON THE MEETING DESCRIBED IN HONG KONG TELNO 152 TO YOU. SO FAR, THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THIS WAS A REGIONAL PROBLEM TO BE DEALT WITH BY COUNTRIES IN THE AREA OR WHICH HAVE HAD INTERESTS THERE. THE QUESTION OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAD BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN PRESIDENT GEISEL AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER WITH THAT OUTCOME. ALTHOUGH THEY HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE CANADIAN AND PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY OF BRAZIL'S TAKING MORE POSITIVE STEPS THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO PROSPECT OF A CHANGE OF POLICY, AT LEAST DURING THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION, 1.5. BEFORE 15 MARCH. THERE WERE BETWEEN 3 AND 4 MILLION NEW BRAZILIANS EVERY YEAR. A SMALL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES MIGHT NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE, BUT HE HELD OUT LITTLE HOPE, NEVERTHELESS HE WOULD DISCUSS AGAIN WITH THE MINISTER.
3. BRAZILIAN SHIPS HAD RECENTLY PICKED UP SMALL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES AT SEA: NO DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN ON WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, BUT THE QUESTION WAS BEING DEALT WITH AS A PRIORITY MATTER. TODAY'S PRESS REPORTS THAT BRAZIL DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING IN A FEW REFUGEES WHO PASS THE GOVERNMENT'S QUOTE PROFESSIONAL PRE-SELECTIONS UNQUOTE STANDARDS.
STAMAM
FILES
UND
IIK & GD
SEAD
FED
SAD
SIR A DUFT
EID (E)
MR CORTAZZI
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD
PS/PUS
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
MR BIRT
QUEEN ANNE'S CATE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROIDON
PUSD
MR WEIR
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
MR MURRAY
CONFIDENTAL
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