TNAG-0880-FCO40-1090-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 24

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4.

AS REGARDS THE TUNG AN, HARTLING GAVE ME IN CONFIDENCE

THE TEXT OF A CABLE WHICH HE PAD SENT TODAY TO PRESIDENT

MARCOS. THIS MENTIONED HIS PREVIOUS CABLE TO MARCOS OF 37

JANUARY APPEALING FOR DISEMBARKATION, REFERRED TO REPORTS OF AN IHMINENT DECISION AND REITERATED QUOTE IN KOST

URGENT POSSIBLE TERMS MY PLEA FOR A COMPASSIONATE DECISION

UNQUOTE. AGAIN IN CONFIDENCE HE SAID HE THOUGHT THE PHILIPPINES HAD NOT DONE THEIR FAIR SHARE WITH FEWER THAN 3,883 REFUGEES IN MANILA CENTRE. HE THOUGHT THAT THE RECENT HARDENING OF THE PHILIPPINE POSITION WAS DUE TO PRESSURE FROM OTHER ASEAN COUNTRIES, NOTABLY MALAYSIA WHO DID NOT WISH TO BE ALONE IN TAKING A HARD LINE. BUT IT MIGHT JUST BE POSSIBLE THAT IN SENDING THE TUNG AN TO SEA THE PHILIPPINES WERE MAKING A TACT- ICAL MOVE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO

IMPROVE THEIR EFFORTS.

5. HARTLING SAID THAT HIS DEPUTY, DE HAAN, WOULD BE VISITING VIETNAM, THAILAND AND MALAYSIA FROM THE END OF THIS MONTH TILL ID-MARCH.

FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING TO HANOI

MURRAY

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