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FM HONG KONG 3109382 MAY 79 RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
792
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.699 OF 31 MAY,
HKK 2431
855
INFO PRIORITY: UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON 710. 51
1.
LKIN 070
YOUR TELNO.337: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : STRONGA!
ANDCX
WE ARE URGENTLY COLLECTING INFORMATION ON WHICH THE AL Cas
CONSULATE-GENERAL WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE NUMBERS THE U.S
IS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT. IT WILL THEN TAKE AT LEAST
A MONTH FOR THE AMERICANS TO VERIFY CLAIMS. THE FACT THAT SOME
REFUGEES WILL BE HELD BACK WHILE THIS IS DONE IS LIKELY TO CREATE CONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS IN PERSUADING THE REST TO BOARD PLANES FOR THE U.K SINCE MANY WITH NO REAL CLAIMS TO THE U.S
WOULD PREFER TO WAIT HERE IN THE HOPE, HOWEVER VAIN, THAT EVENTUALLY THEY TOO COULD GO THERE. IT WOULD THEREFORE HELP
IF WE COULD GIVE THE REFUGEES WHEN THEY ARE TAKEN ASHORE FROM
THE ''SIBONGA'' A FIRM DATE ON WHICH THE INITIAL GROUPS CAN .
EXPECT TO FLY TO THE U.K. IT WOULD ALSO BE OF GREAT HELP IN
LOCAL PUBLICITY WHEN THE REFUGEES ARE TAKEN ASHORE IF WE COULD
BE AUTHORISED TO ANNOUNCE DATES FOR THE FIRST FLIGHTS.
2.
GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD THEREFORE LET US HAVE DATES WITHIN
THE NEXT TWO DAYS, EVEN IF THESE HAVE TO SE ALTERED BECAUSE
E.G CF DIFFICULTIES WHICH ICEM MIGHT FIND IN SECURING PLACES ON
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS.
3.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT CAPTAIN RODGERS OF BANK LINE HAS
MENTIONED THE FOSSIBILITY OF THE COMPANY CHARTERING AIRCRAFT
TO TAKE THE PEFUGEES TO THE U.K. GRATEFUL IF THIS POSSIBILITY COULD BE EXPLORED IF IT WOULD ENSURE EARLIER DEPARTURE.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
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