TNAG-0887-FCO40-1097-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 170

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10. NEWSOM ALSO SAID THAT SOME OF THE LARGER SHIPS CARRYING

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES APPEARED TO ORIGINATE IN HONG KONG, OR AT

LEAST TO HAVE SOME HONG KONG CONNECTIONS, MR BLAKER SAID THAT WE

WOULD LOOK INTO THIS.

11. IN CONCLUSION MR BLAKER EMPHASISED THE URGENCY OF THE

ROACHBANK CASE. HE ADDED THAT IF THE INFLOW OF VIETNAMESE

REFUGEES CONTINUED WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AGAIN AT OUR POLICIES.

CONCLUSION

12. CHRISTOPHER AND NEWSOM WERE BOTH CLEARLY SYMPATHETIC WITH OUR PROBLEMS, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE OF HONG KONG. NEWSOM SUBSEQUENTLY TELEPHONED TO SAY THAT THE AMERICANS WILL AT ONCE APPROACH THE TAIWAN AUTHORITIES ON THE ROACHBANK, THOUGH HE COULD NOT SAY HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY WOULD BE. HOWEVER, IN THE LIGHT OF CHRISTOPHER'S OTHER COMMENTS, WE WOULD BE UNWISE TO EXPECT TOO

MUCH FROM THE US ON THE WIDER PROBLEMS HONG KONG FACES.

FCO PASS SAVING HANOI

JAY

FILES HK & GD

PS

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

UND

SEAD

FED

SAD

EID (E)

PUSD

OID

PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY

IPD

NEWS D MVD

MR MURRAY

MR BURLEIGH

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

HOME OFFICE

LUNAR KOUSE

CROYDON

MR V MCGEE FAO ODM

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