TNAG-0880-FCO40-1090-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 179

2. THIS REACTION WAS PROVISIONALLY CONFIRMED WHEN WE FOLLOWED ur ON 26 JANUARY WITH THE HEAD OF THE RELEVANT MFA DEPARTMENT

THOUGH HE SAID THAT THE MATTER WOULD NOW BE BROUGHT TO THE

ATTENTION OF DANISH MINISTERS. ABRAHAMSON ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE DANISH GOVERNMENT ONLY LAST MONTH REVISED ITS POLICY TO THE EXTENT OF MAKING A COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF GENUINE REFUGEES PICKED UP BY A DANISH REGISTERED VESSEL. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT OF AM IMMEDIATE OFFER OF ADDITIONAL HELP FROM DENMARK ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND IN CONFIDENCE THAT INTER DEPARTMENTAL DELIBERATIONS ON THIS GERERAL PROBLEM ARE STILL IN PROGRESS AND THE MFA AT LEAST WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN MORE FUNDS FOR REFUGEES.

3. IN FULFILLING THEIR EXISTING PROGRAMME THE DANISH AUTHOR- ITIES FOLLOW STRICTLY AN ORDER OF PRIORITY BASED ON ADVICE FROM THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE SEST MEANS OF PARSUADING THE DANES TO INCREASE THE PROPORTION EARMARKED FOR VIETNAMESE WOULD BE TO PERSUADE THE UNHCR TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DANISH GOVERNMENT IN THAT SENSE.

WARBURTON

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