TNAG-0884-FCO40-1094-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 59

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2.

ALTHOUGH HARTLING WAS RELECTANT TO COMMIT HIMSELF I THINK PE NOW FIRMLY CRASPS THE IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO WHAT IS CLEARLY A POINT OF PRINCIPLE, AND HE PAY WELL DO WHAT HE CAN TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S INTERESTS ARE NOT IGNORED. HE STAFF ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD RAISED HONG KONG ACCESS WITH THE INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WHEN HE CALLED ON THEM IN THE HIGH COMISS- IONER'S ABSENCE LAST WEEK. MOCHTAR HAD GIVEN THE SAME REPLY AS PE GAVE ME (MY LETTER OF 24 APRIL TO MURRAY).

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3. IN ASKING WHAT ADVANTACE THERE WOULD BE FOR HONG KONG TO USE THE ISLAND FACILITIES (JAKARTA TELMO 118) DARUSMAN WAS INDEED FAISING A PERTINENT QUESTION WHICH WE SHALL BE EXPECTED TO ANSWER IN DUE COURSE. ADMITTEDLY IT IS, DIFFICULT TO ASSESS THE EXTENT OF SUCH ADVANTAGE UNTIL HE HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF HOW THE SCHEME IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP. BUT IF MOCHTAR SUGGESTED TO ME THE CENTRE IS TO BE FOR REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY PROCESSED AND FOR WHOM PARTICULAR RESETTLEMENT COMMITMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, IT WILL NO DOUBT BE QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WOULD BE PRACTICAL OR ECONOMICAL TO MOVE PERSONS IN THIS CATEGORY FROM PONG KONG TO GALANG BEFORE THEIR ONWARD TRIP, FOR EXAMPLE TO THE UNITED STATES. THE ANSWER MIGHT WELL BE THAT ACCOMMODATION IN GALANG IS LIKELY TO BE 'CHEAPER'' THAN IN HONG KONG.

MURRAY

FILE S

S NO

HK & GD

SEAD

FED

SAD

EID (E)

FUSD

OID IPD

NEWS D MVD

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY

ROBERTS

FS/MR LUARD

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS

MR CORTAZZI

MR LEAHY

MR MURRAY

2

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

MR BURLEIGH

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

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