RESTRICTED
From The Minister of State
The Rt Hon The Lord Goronwy-Roberts
See 1507
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
28 February 1979
HKK
243/1
1 MAR 979
INDEX
No
27.3.
435
Dear Mumay,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
I have been closely following developments in the Vietnamese refugee problem particularly as it affects Hong Kong. I am well aware of the problems you could face if Hong Kong comes to be seen as the soft option (especially by those who are involved in the despicable business of carrying shiploads of refugees for profit) even without the difficulties that any influx of refugees poses for Hong Kong at a time when you are having to cope with the arrival of such huge numbers of immigrants from China.
In the circumstances, I believe it is all the more your credit that you in Hong Kong have continued to observe your traditional humane attitude towards the refugees. I should like you to know that we here firmly endorse your policy, both in your attitude towards the refugees themselves, and in your determination to bring the full force of the law to bear against anyone who can be shown to have participated in the trafficking in human lives.
You may already have seen a record of the exchanges which took place in the House of Lords on 31 January, when Lord Segal took the opportunity to pay tribute to your Government's humane handling of the problem. I was happy to associate HM Government with his statement. There was a further debate on the subject on 14 February when I was again able to put on record our recognition of how you and the Hong Kong Government are coping. I enclose copies of the relevant extracts from Hansard.
Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO
Governor
Flagstaff House
Hong Kong
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