TNAG-0888-FCO40-1098-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 6

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4. WE ALSO SOUGHT JAPANECE SUPPORT FOR THE PRIME

MINISTER'S PROPOSAL FOR A SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, WITH TWO AIMS, MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES AND INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON VIETNAM. MR SONODA HAD ADMITTED TO THE SECRETARY

OF STATE THAT THE JAPANESE RECORD ON REFUGEES WAS NOT GOOD.

JAPAN HAD A DIRECT INTEREST IN THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG.

WHICH COULD NOT TAKE THE PRESSURE FROM VIETNAMESE REFUGEES,

IN ADDITION TO LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.

WE APPEALED TO THE JAPANESE TO TAKE MORE THAN THE 500

REFUGEES THEY HAD ANNOUNCED, AND IN PARTICULAR TO TAKE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.

5. BECAUSE OF JAPAN'S SPECIAL LINKS WITH LATIN AMERICAN

COUNTRIES, WE ALSO ASKED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO USE

ITS GOOD OFFICES WITH COUNTRIES SUCH AS BRAZIL AND VENENZUELA

WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME REFUGEES WITHOUT UNDUE

DIFFICULT.

6. CORTAZZI CONCLUDED BY STRESSING THE PRIME MINISTER'S

DIRECT PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE ISSUE.

7. FUJIYAMA UNDERTOOK TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO TOKYO.

8.

PLEASE TAKE APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING ACTION.

CARRINGTON

FILES

SeaD HAY GO

UND

FED EESD

I AM D SAD EID (E)

PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING ST]

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

SIR A PARSONS

MR HILLARY

MR CORTAZZI

MR LEAHY

MR MURRAY

LONDON

HOME OFFICE QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR WOODFIELD HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

PUSD

OID

IPD

NEWS DEPT MVD PA

PS/LPS

MR V MCGEE FAO

FAO ODA

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