TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 81

Mr D Murray

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HKK 2431

CONFIDENTI

RECEIVED PORKY NO. 51

2 MAY 279

DESK OFFICER

PA

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INDEX

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Mm.5

صلاة

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wilcaudern

J24.5

INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES

1.

Mr Head of the Home Office telephoned me this morning to say that the Home Secretary is giving his personal attention to Mr Blaker's letter to Mr Raison about the 900 refugees on the MV Sibonga. His concern has been heightened by another report today of 293 refugees picked up by the MV Roachbank en route to Taiwan and Hong Kong. Mr Head said that not only were there Treasury hoops to be gone through before the Home Office could agree to Mr Blaker's proposal but also the question of principle which needed to be re-examined by an incoming government. The Home Secretary had expressed concern about the open-ended nature of the commitment to take refugees picked up by British vessels. He wanted time to consider this, so there was no question of a reply to Mr Blaker's Letter by tomorrow. Indeed, the Home Secretary thought it possible that he might want to take the whole matter to Cabinet.

2. I took note.

علاش وایسا

Martin Reith

UN Department

23 May 1979

CC

Private Secretary

PS/Lord Privy Seal

PS/Mr Blaker

PS/Mr Hurd

PS/PUS

Sir A Parsons

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Leahy

Mr McLaren, HKGD✔

Mr Simons, SEAD

Mr Shepherd, MVD

Mr Braithwaite, Planning Staff

Mr Whyte, News Department

CONFIDENTIAL

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