TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 188

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ED. 12/76

TA 645/1

4180

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

Mkk 243/1

ROLAND TERAVO. 51 1 6 MAR 1979

30.

NOTE FOR THE RECORD

INDEX

PA

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: LUCKY DRAGON

ما

293

Following message dated 6 March has been received from HM Ambassador, Hanoi:

MFA could not agree to see me before 5 March. I therefore delivered a note on 2 March containing text in your telegram. I also gave information to De Haan, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who, without mentioning Lucky Dragon by name, spoke to Vice Minister Hoang Bich Son on 3 March about such refugee ships.

I was summoned to MFA on 5 March. Head of Europe 2 Department, Mai Van Bo, said that information in note was pure fabrication and slanderous. The Government of Vietnam was not involved in arranging departure of refugees, HMG must end its attitude of hostility towards Vietnam and bear responsibility for worsening relations. He rejected note. He added that Vietnam was cooperating closely with UNHCR on refugee problems.

I replied that there was nothing slanderous in note. The worsening relations derived from action which Vietnam had herself taken in Cambodia and over refugees. Ι was glad to hear of Vietnamese cooperation with UNHCR, I left the note on the

table.

14 March 1979

Cow Hamfe

ि

CT W Humfrey

South East Asian Department

обобда

CC: Hong Kong & General D

United Nations Dept

I C Orr Esq., Assistant Political Adviser,

Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL