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The Swedes have said that for parliamentary reasons they cannot do so. We are now concentrating on getting action by the Japanese.
d. Publicity against Vietnam. The Lord Privy Seal has made a speech condemning the Vietnamese action and this was widely carried. We have sent out to all our posts guidance telegrams giving the facts of Vietnamese Government involvement asking them to bring these facts, to the attention of other governments and give appropriate publicity.
e.
1...!
Pressure on Taiwan. We have put all possible indirect pressure on Taiwan. The Americans have approached the Taiwanese but have said that they can do no more. The Koreans, who have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, have been helpful and their message, although somewhat confused, suggested that the Taiwanese might take a few of the refugees. Mr Lee Kuan Yew has reluctantly sent a message but we have not yet heard a response.
THE PROBLEMS FACING BRITISH SHIPOWNERS
14:
4.
So far British ship owners have been very patient although they have made strong representations to the Secretary of State for Trade and Lord Inverforth, the Chairman of the Bank Line, has written twice to the Prime Minister. The Bank Line reckon that they are losing £7,000 a day while the Roachbank remains
Taiwan off Hong Kong.
The crew of the Roachbank face considerable problems in dealing with the refugees and there are real dangers · of epidemics and other trouble if we don't act quickly on their behalf. It seems likely that ship owners will give publicity of their difficulties in a manner openly critical of the Government's behaviour.
HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS
5.
i
wat may ne.
di
Yesterday nearly 3,000 refugees arrived in small boats in Hong Kong and there are now over 50,000 refugees from Vietnam in the colony. According to the Daily Telegram, an increasing proportion of these are ethnic Vietnamese. Hitherto the P
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