Mr Murray
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243/1
RECALLS
Me. $1
PA
No 30.0
Inken
579
Your minute of 23 April to Mr Morgan.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
A
1
2*
B
с
/country
D
As you probably did not realise, Dr Mochtar is expected to be in Geneva tomorrow. We have heard this from UKMis Geneva who reported that Sir James Murray was trying to fix an appointment to see Dr Mochtar. We have therefore taken the opportunity to ask Sir James to speak to the Indonesian Foreign Minister on the lines of paragraph 3 (a)(h) of your minute under reference.
3
Also today, Mr Cortazzi received a further letter from the Indonesian Ambassador about the conference in Jakarta to be held on 15/16 May about the island refugee transit centre. This makes a couple of important points. First, the delegates should have full powers from their respective governments: the objective is to obtain (a) firm commitments regarding the number of refugees to be accepted from the island, and (b) financial commitments to allow the establishment of the centre. Second, every/participating in the meeting may include in its delegation "another government official".
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On the first point, we would hardly be in a position to comply until Ministers had considered after 3 May. At the worst, and depending on whatever answers Sir James Murray receives tomorrow from Dr Mochtar on the usefulness of the meeting to Hong Kong, we might need to reflect after 3 May on whether to attend the meeting. On the second, we would presumably want someone from Hong Kong to support the Ambassador at the meeting if the possibility of Hong Kong's obtaining some benefit from the Island Centre was not excluded by Dr Mochtar in advance. It might even be a fit subject for discussion at the conference. Paragraph 2 of Mr Saleh's letter of 20 April provides a convenient peg on which to hang a proposal to include an official from the Hong Kong government in our delegation (Hong Kong telno 473).
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Before taking further action, we should, if you agree, prefer to await Sir James Murray's report of his meeting with Dr Mochtar. We ought then be able to reply to Mr Saleh's latest letter. We could also consider what further representations we need to make for Hong Kong to be accepted as part of the scheme, including asking the Americans to weigh- in with the Indonesians on our behalf.
23 April 1979
keleita
Martin Reith
Cc:
Mr Cortazzi
SEAD
United Nations Department
'CONFIDENTIAL
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