TNAG-0887-FCO40-1097-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 34

THE PRIME MINISTER

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B/C PS

Ps/mr

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ps/m, Beale

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Rear Th. Roynihans ver

Дидь

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(847)

12. W. (460)

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I was glad to receive your letter of 26 May about the plight of the refugees aboard the MV Sibonga now in Hong Kong harbour.

I am very aware of the acute difficulties facing these ' unfortunate people. As I am sure you appreciate, the whole problem of refugees from Indo-China needs to be pursued urgently within the international community and this the Government fully intends to do. In the meantime, however, you will now no doubt have seen that I announced yesterday that we have decided, on humanitarian grounds, to accept responsibility for the refugees from Vietnam on board the MV Sibonga.

In the light of this I am pleased to accept your offer that you will "accept the responsibility of looking after and rehabilitating the children and their families for the period of resettlement". I have asked the Home Secretary to pursue with the utmost urgency the task of finding suitable accommodation and he now has this in hand, His officials will be arranging a very early meeting.of the principal refugee organisations and they will be getting in touch with you in the course of today to invite you to take part.

N.H. Moynihan, Esq.

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