TNAG-0888-FCO40-1098-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 87

878

Mr Simpson-Orlebar

cc: Mr Simons, SEAD

Mr McLaren, HK&GD

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference.........

Hkk243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

- A JUN 1970

DESK OFFICE* INDEX

PA

PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REFUGEES

no 186.6.

Pl

910

Mr Willingbom.

PA J46

1. UKMis New York tel no 544: With regard to the request in the final sentence of the telegram under reference, I telephoned Mr Edis in UKMis New York to remind him that he already had a copy of the text of the UN Secretary-General's appeal to Heads of Government. He took the point.

2. Mr Edis took the opportunity to remind me that the UN Secretariat in New York and most of the misions there of member states did not themselves take a particularly close interest in refugee affairs (as you know Geneva is the main place where these are discussed). Could we, therefore, ensure that further background is telegraphed as soon as possible to UKMis New York, as requested in paragraph 6 of the telegram under reference. The Indonesian mission in New York had already been asking for our mission's views on the scenario for this Conference.

3.

Mr Edis commented that the Secretary-General's own reaction to the Prime Minister's letter will depend largely on the reaction he gets to his appeal from the other Heads of Government concerned. Mr Edis thought it important, therefore, that countries such as France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (and presumably the US, though he did not mention it) should also express a need for such a Conference; had any démarches been made in capitals?

I told Mr Edis that SEAD had the matter in hand but that, nevertheless, I would be glad to pass on his comments to them.

4.

1 June 1979

P Morgan

United Nations Department K149 233 8631

CONFIDENTIAL