CONFIDENTIAL
LES 19100JZ
CONFIDENTIAL
FM W HINGTON 181700Z MAY 79
10 IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NO 1161 OF 18 MAY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG UKMIS GENEVA
HKK 2431
RECEIVED IN 12ANY NO. 51
1 MAY 1979
DESK OPACI
MIDEX
PA
No £21.5
(681) HONG KONG TELNO 601: VANCE'S VISIT TO LONDON
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
ITY
Action Tecan
(682
see 694
1. STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY DO NOT EXPECT CONGRESS TO ACT ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TÓ DEAL WITH THE INCREASE IN REFUGEE FLOW UNTIL LATE JULY, IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ARE URGENTLY SEEKING TO TAP ALTERNATIVE DEPARTMENTAL FUNDS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF, TO KEEP THE MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES GOING, AT A REDUCED LEVEL DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE"
ABD JULY.
2. WHEN ROBINSON AND BRAITHWAITE SAW HOLBROOKE (ASSISTANT SECRETARY, EAST ASIA, STATE DEPARTMENT) YESTERDAY, HOLBROOKE CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY LOSSES OF LIFE FROM SINKINGS AND PIRACY ON OTHER ROUTES, AND DUE TO HONG KONG'S RECORD OF HUMANE RECEPTION THE PREFERRED ROUTE FOR REFUGEES NOW APPEARED TO BE ALONG THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AND CHINESE COASTS TO HONG KONG.
3. ROBINSON REFERRED TO THE REPRESENTATIONS WE HAD ALREADY MADE TO AMBASSADOR CLARK AND OTHERS TO SECURE THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG IN THE PROJECTED ASEAN PROCESSING CENTRE, AND THE RELUCTANCE OF ASEAN MEMBERS TO ACCEPT THIS. WE REPEATED THAT OUR ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPC WOULD INEVITABLY BE AFFECTED BY THE EXTENT THAT HONG KONG WAS ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM IT. HOLBROOKE, WHO HAD NOT APPARENTLY BEEN AWARE OF THIS ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM HITHERTO, READILY AGREED THAT THIS. WAS A REASONABLE ATTITUDE.
JAY
FILE S
HK & GD
PS
UND
SEAD
FED
'SAD
EID (E)
FUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/LPS
PS/MR HURD
PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS ·
MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
HONG, KONG GOVERMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH .
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANIIE'S CATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
LONDON
MR MCSEE FILO ODM.
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