TNAG-0880-FCO40-1090-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 172

CONFIDENTIAL

4. YOU COULD REPEAT THE UNHCR'S UNDERTAKING (KUALA LUMPUR TEL NO 53) TO RESETTLE THE REFUGEES AND TO MEET THEIR CARE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AND SAY THAT EXCEPTIONALLY AS A HUMANATARIAN GESTURE,

IF IT PROVED IMPOSSIBLE FOR UNHCR TO RESETTLE THE REFUGEES ELSEWHERE, WE WOULD BE PREPARED FOR THEM TO BE BROUGHT TO THE UK.

5. WE TRUST THAT, IN VIEW OF THE MEASURES WE ARE PREPARED TO TAKE TO SECURE THE REFUGEES' FUTURE THE SULTAN WILL NOT NOW INSIST ON A PRECIPITATE COURSE OF ACTION WHICH WOULD PUT THE REFUGEES' LIVES AT RISK.

6. YOU COULD ADD IF YOU JUDGE IT APPROPRIATE, THAT ACTION WHICH IS APPARENTLY AFFECTING A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT (NORWEGIAN) WHICH IS A CLOSE FRIEND AND ALLY OF BRITAIN HAS RAISED ACUTE EMBARRASSMENT THIS AND THE URGENT CONCERN NOT TO EXACERBATE HUMAN DISTRESS,

JUSTIFIES OUR VERY STRONG REQUEST TO THE SULTAN TO SUSPEND ACTION

WHILE ALL CONCERNED CONSIDER WHAT CAN BE DONE.

OWEN

TILES

COPIES TO

UND MK & CD

PS

HONG FONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

SHAD

FS/LORD GORONWY

JASOOS

LONDON

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MR BUNIMIGH

FED

WED

SAD

EID (E)

PUSO

COD

IDD

PS/MR_LUARD

SUR A DUTY

MR CORTAZZI

SIR A PARSONS

MR

J C MOBERLY

FG/FUS

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ARNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE. CROYDON

NEVS D MVD

MR MURRAY

MR LEAHY

2 - CONFIDENTIAL