TNAG-0889-FCO40-1099-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 203

Mr Simons SEAD

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 243/1

RALEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

INC

- 7 JUN1979

DISK OFFICER

(1956)

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

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днь

See (972

1. Mr Blaker has commented after seeing the recent papers that if there really are likely to be hundreds of thousands more refugees forced out of Vietnam we need to think of bold solutions. Mr Blaker wonders whether it would be feasible for the United Nations to buy an island from some South East Asian country on which the refugees could be settled permanently. If such a permanent island home for the refugees could be found the Vietnamese might conceivably be persuaded to regulate the exodus from their country in the meantime?

2.

Mr Blaker would be grateful to know if the Hong Kong Government have given any thought to the possibility of establishing short term processing facilities on Lantao island.

3. Mr Blaker has seen the advice on the legal position prepared in the FCO and in the Attorney General's Department but he has not seen a clear statement on the law and practice relating to the admission to this country and to Hong Kong of the "boat people". He would be grateful if such a statement could be prepared setting out

a) The first port of call rule, and

b) The rule which places an obligation on us to admit to this country people picked up by British ships.

cc: PS/LPS

PS/PUS

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Murray

Mr McLaren HKGD UND

5 June 1979

CONFIDENTIAL

Balin A. Munro

CA Munro PS/Mr Blaker