TNAG-0881-FCO40-1091-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 23

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4. IN A SEPARATE CONVERSATION WISNER (TEMPORARILY SECONDED FROM VANCE'S OFFICE TO WORK ON THE REFUGEE PROBLEM), ALSO URGED THE #PORTANCE OF WESTERN SUPPORT FOR THE ISLAND CENTRE. OF COURSE, OPEN-ENDED GUARANTEES MUST BE AVOIDED, BUT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR COUNTRIES TO OFFER TO TAKE A FIXED PROPORTION OF THEIR (NATIONALLY DETERMINED) IMMIGRATION QUOTA FROM THE ISLAND. WISNER THOUGHT THAT THE JAPANESE, WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY IMMIGRANTS, WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROACHED AT SOME POINT TO HELP FINANCE THE PROJECT. IT WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO STOP THE FLOW AT SOURCE BY BRINGING HOME TO THE VIETNAMESE AND TO THE SHIP OWNERS THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM OF THE CONTINUED TRAFFIC. WISNER SAID THAT AS FAR AS VIETNAM WAS CONCERNED HE BELIEVED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD LINK THIS WITH NORMALISATION.

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