TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 153

CR 7/4821/78

CONFIDENTIAL

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2 1 MAR 1979

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MK O Simpson-Orlebar Esq United Nations Department F CO

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POLICY ON REFUGEES

You will remember that, in the midst of the 'Huey Fong' crisis in January, you asked for my personal views on where we were going in our policy towards refugees (FCO telegram No 161 of 8 January). I gave our reply in Hong Kong telegram No 74 of 10 January.

2.

1

I would now find it very useful if you could do the same for us from your end. It would be particularly useful to know, if necessary on a personal basis, where FCO thinking has got to on the question of a transit centre and of ways for persuading recipient countries to take more refugees for permanent

resettlement.

You will have seen all the telegrams from here so I need not burden you with the details of our growing problem. Suffice to say that it is causing us major concern; shows no signs of diministing; is likely to get worse over the year; and international efforts to deal with the problem have in no way kept pace with the growth of the problem itself.

3.

Overall I do not like the way the situation is developing. The Government here is constantly coming under pressure to take "stronger action", although precisely what people have in mind is usually left

CONFIDENTIAL

/contd...