TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

A GUARANTEE FROM THE COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION BEFORE LANDING THAT

ANY REFUGEES NOT OFFERED PLACES ELSEWHERE WILL BE ACCEPTED BY IT AND MOVED WITHIN AS SHORT A PERIOD AS POSSIBLE, IDEALLY NOT MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. WE REALISE THAT THIS WILL INVOLVE DIFFICULTIES IN RESPECT OF SHIPS REGISTERED UNDER FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE (THOUGH THESE NOW DO NOT GENERALLY RESCUE REFUGEES). HOWEVER, THE PRESENT AND PROJECTED SCALE OF THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IS SUCH THAT WE MUST BE SEEN LOCALLY TO BE TAKING ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO RESTRICT THE PERIOD THAT SUCH REFUGEES RESCUED BY OTHERS REMAIN IN HONG KONG WHERE THERE

ARE DIMINISHING RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS.

6. I AM TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY ABOUT OUR WHOLE IMMIGRATIONS

PROBLEM WHICH IS MOVING TO A CRISIS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

UND

HK YG D

SCAD

FED

MYD

SIR A PARSOILS

MR CARTALZI

NR MURRAY

HR LEAHY

MR FIQO

:

2

CONFIDENTIAL

1.