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? No. 51
1 MAR 1979
REGISTRY Action Tar
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Done
27/11
Mr Cortazzi
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
They
The Hong Kong Government have learned that the "Lucky Dragon", a 7,500 ton vessel registered in Panama, left Singapore on 27 February and that Hong Kong is its next port of call. suspect it may be planning to pick up refugees and have recommended that the Vietnamese Embassy be warned of this possibility (Hong Kong telegram No 321).
2. You have agreed to see the Vietnamese Ambassador and an appointment has been made for him to call at 4.30 pm today. attach a piece of paper based on paragraph 3 of Hong Kong TUR which you may wish to hand over.
I
3. The Ambassador has repeatedly asked for evidence of the involve- ment of Vietnamese Government officials in the refugee traffic.
I recommend that you also take the opportunity to pass on the information in Hong Kong telegram No 322 and attach a second piece of paper for this purpose.
4. SEAD see advantage in asking HM Ambassador in Hanoi to take parallel action. Provided you agree, they will telephone Mr Margetson tomorrow morning.
5. The Hong Kong Government wish to be able to refer publicly
to the fact that we have been in touch with the Vietnamese Government
about the "Lucky Dragon". I see no objection and will so inform
Hong Kong after you have seen the Ambassador.
Readven
27 February 1979
Copies to:
PS
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PS/Mr Luard
PS/PUS
Sir A Duff
Sir A Parsons
Mr Leahy
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
Mr Murray
SEAD
UND
FED
PUSD
OID
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