TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 266

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Mr Flower, SEAD

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номинова угов

JAPANESE POLICY ON REFUGEES BROUGHT TO JAPAN BY FOREIGN SHIPS

1.

Mr Kobayashi (First Secretary at the Japanese Embassy) telephoned this morning. He said the Japanese Government had decided on 23 June that in future Japan would not require a guarantee of re- settlement for refugees from third countries whose vessels brought refugees to Japan (whether or not as first scheduled port of call) provided third countries concerned were prepared to grant reciprocal treatment to refugees brought to their ports by Japanese registered vessels.

2. He asked whether we would demand a firm resettlement guarantee from Japan if a Japanese registered vessel brought Indo-China refugees (who had been rescued at sea) to a UK port whether as first or subsequent scheduled port of call. He recognised that it was highly unlikely that any vessel would come to Britain with Indo-China refugees aboard. I said the idea was so unlikely that the Government had not considered what their policy should be in such an event. I added, however, that I did not envisage the British Government would ask for such a resettlement guarantee from Japan. I expected that we would receive such refugees on the usual undertaking from the UNHCR to seek resettlement places for them in due course.

3. The Home Office, whom I have since consulted, have confirmed that the answer I gave Mr Kobayashi was reasonable. They pointed out, however, that we should need to be careful lest a Sibonga type Japanese vessel came to Britain with hundreds of refugees aboard: the Government's policy towards allowing such refugees to land might not be so straightforward. I said the assumption in my conversation with Mr Kobayashi was that a ship would not divert to offload refugees but continue on its scheduled course. Mr Kobayashi later confirmed that this was his understanding too.

4. Mr Kobayashi also asked whether the Hong Kong Government would be prepared not to seek a resettlement guarantee from Japan in return for Japan not seeking such guarantees from Hong Kong. HK&GD, with whom I have spoken, are checking this point with the Hong Kong Government.

P Morgan

25 June 1979

CC: FED

HK&G D

MVD

C Birt, Home Office

V McGee, UND(B)/ODA

Chanceries:

TOKYO

UKMIS GENEVA

UKMIS NEW YORK

UN Department

RESTRICTED