TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 156

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3. IN PRIVATE CONVERSATION AFTERWARDS DE HAAN SAID THAT HE HAD RAISED WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT THE QUESTION OF SHIPLOADS OF REFUGEES SUCH AS THE PUEY FONG AND THE SKYLUCK. HE HAD ALSO SPOKEN ABOUT THE MALPRACTICES INVOLVED. HE DID NOT INDICATE HOW THE VIETNAMESE HAD REACTED.

4.

THE MOST PUZZLING FEATURE OF THE BRIEFING WAS HOW TO RECONCILE THE CPTIMISM OF DE HAAN AND CTHER MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY ABOUT DEVELOPING A PROGRAMME FOR THE CRDERLY MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM - VIETNAM, WITH THE APPARENT RELUCTANCE TO DIVULGE ANY DETAILS OF SUCH A SCHEME. IT MAY BE THAT DE HAAN WILL SPEAK MORE FREELY WHEN HE HAS CONCLUDED HIS TOUR OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES AND CAN JUDGE MORE ACCURATELY THE SIZE AND PRACTICABILITY OF SUCH A PROG- RAMME.

MARGETSON

FILE S

HK & GD

PS

UND

SEAD

FED

SAD

PS/FUS

EID (E)

FUSD

CID

IPD

FS/LORD GORONWY

ROBERTS

PS/MR LUARD

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS

MR CORTAZZI

MR LEARY

NEWS D MVD

MR MURRAY

2

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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

MR BURLEIGH

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

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