TNAG-0888-FCO40-1098-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 160

GR 200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 311903Z MAY 79

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

HKK 2431

RECEIVED

CONFIDENTIAL

REGISTRY NO. 51

↑ JUN 1979

DESK OFFICER

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 354 OF 31 MAY

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: ROACHBANK

WHILE MINISTERS HAVE NOT YET TAKEN FINAL DECISION THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO HAVE TO ACCEPT THE ROACHBANK REFUGEES SOONER OR LATER. WE ARE CONSIDERING WITH THE HOME OFFICE HOW AN

EVENTUAL DECISION MIGHT BE PUT INTO EFFECT.

2. THE FIRST STEP WOULD PROBABLY BE TO ASK THE TAIWANESE AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO LAND AGAINST A GUARANTEE

THAT THE UK WOULD BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT ANY NOT RESETTLED ELSEWHERE WITHIN 3 MONTHS. JUDGING BY OUR EXPERIENCE OVER THE

WELLPARK THE TAIWANESE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY REFUSE. WE SHOULD

THEN HAVE TWO ALTERNATIVES:-

(A) TO FLY THE REFUGEES DIRECT TO THIS COUNTRY FROM TAIWAN (B) TO ASK THE OWNERS TO INSTRUCT THE ROACH BANK TO SAIL WITH THE REFUGEES TO HONG KONG WHERE ONWARD TRANSPORT WOULD BE ARRANGED. 3. WE ASSUME YOU WOULD PREFER (A) BUT THERE MAY BE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER (B) WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU AND IF SO UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS. WOULD YOU PERMIT PROCESSING OF ANY OF THE REFUGEES WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG?

CARRINGTON

FILES

HK & GD

SEAD

UND

FED

PS

PS/LPS

PS/ER BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL

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