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ROBINSON ASKED WHAT ACTION, IN THE AMERICAN VIEW WAS OPEN TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. U.S. OFFICIAL SAID THAT THE AMERICANS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY ACTION HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO STAMP OUT THE MIDDLE-MEN IN HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE. (THE SAME POINT WAS MADE BY NEWSOM WHEN MR BLAKER SAW WARREN CHRISTOPHER: OUR TEL NO 1279) IT SEEMED CLEAR ENOUGH THAT THE TRADE WAS BEING ORGANISED FROM HONG KONG AND TO A LESSER EXTENT FROM SINGAPORE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAD NUMEROUS TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE NETWORK FOR GETTING REFUGEES OUT OF VIETNAM. THESE ENQUIRIES WERE GENERALLY ON THE LINES THAT THE CALLER UNDERSTOOD THAT FOR THREE TO FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS PAID TO A NAMED HONG KONG ADDRESS AN INDIVIDUAL REGUGEE COULD BE BROUGHT OUT. THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT TAKE DETAILS FOR FEAR OF LEGAL ACTION HERE. BUT THEIR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THESE REFUGEES NORMALLY CAME FROM NORTH VIETNAM, AND WERE TAKEN UP THE OAST TO HONG KONG, THERE BEING FEW CASUALTIES ON THIS ROUTE. CHINESE AUTHORITIES APPEARED TO BE ADDING ONE OR TWO DOZEN CHINESE ILLEGALS TO EACH BOAT ON THE WAY UP; ACCEPTING PAYMENT IN LOCAL CURRENCY.
10. THESE ARE THE COMMENTS OF ONE OFFICIAL. BUT THEY ARE IN LINE WITH WARREN CHRISTOPHER'S CAUTIOUS REACTION WHEN MR BLAKER SAW HIM ON 29 MAY AND THEY RING TRUE. WE CAN NO DOUBT LOOK TO THE AMERICANS FOR SUPPORT IN A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN, AND IN ANY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY WALDHEIM, FROM WHICH HOWEVER U.S. OFFICIALS DO NOT EXPECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF CONCRETE RESULTS. BUT THERE SEEMS NO PROSPECT AT PRESENT OF U.S. ACTION TO INCREASE ADMITTANCE OF REFUGEES, NOR TO INCREASE FUNDS AVAILABLE, REMOTELY COMMENSURATE WITH THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM.
JAY
FILES
SEAD
NAD
HKJGD
UND
FED
EESD
PS
PS/LPS
PS/ MRBLAKER.
PS/PUS SIR-A-DUFF
MR CORTAZZI
MR LEAHY
MR MURRAY.
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