TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 79

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FM HONG KONG 251038Z MAY 79

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Лис

J211

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN, AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO.647 OF 25 MAY,

INFO IMMEDIATE: UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON,

YOUR TELNO.320 : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : "SIBONGA’’.

·

RY

Wen

1. AS YOU REALISE THIS PUTS US IN A VERY EMBARRASSING POSITION. LOCALLY IT IS ALREADY RECALLED THAT IN THE CASE OF THE M.V WELL PARK, MY TELEGRAM 636 REFERS, H.M.G MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REFUGEES WHO HAD BEEN PICKED UP IN DISTRESS AT SEA TO BE RESETTLED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITHIN TEN DAYS. IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN PRESS REPORTS THAT AN FCO SPOKESMAN HAD SAID DURING THIS WEEK THAT WHERE MASTERS OF BRITISH SHIPS HAD PICKED UP REFUGEES THEY WOULD BE WELCOME TO COME TO U.K.

2. A FURTHER FACTOR IS THE M.V ROACHBANK. WE CAN SCARCELY ALLOW 'SIBONGA' INTO HONG KONG WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEE ABOUT RESETTLEMENT

IF THE TAIWANESE AUTHORITIES REQUIRE ONE ON THE BASIS OF THE

WELL PARK PRECEDENT.

•

3. THE LORD PRIVY SEAL HAS REFERRED TO URGENT CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO THE FUTURE OF THE REFUGEES IN CONSULTATION'' WITH US. WE WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME CONSULTATION.

4. WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY THE BANK LINE TO ALLOW THE SHIP TO

ENTER HONG KONG, BUT WE PROPOSE TO HOLD HER WHERE SHE IS UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT LINE U.K MINISTERS WILL TAKE.

5. FOR OUR PART AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES HERE (TWO THIRDS STILL IN OUR CARE), WE ARE ALSO REVIEWING THE FIRST PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE. WE SHALL NOW SEEK, WHEREVER POSSIBLE,

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