TNAG-0893-FCO40-1103-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 153

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the Conference starts are desirable and could be very

useful. But the right place to have them is Geneva,

where there is bound to be a great deal of consultation

in any case, and I think we should put this to the

Australians as our strong preference. Meanwhile, the

limited mind-clearing exercise of officials should take

place as planned. The American Minister and the

Australian Deputy High Commissioner will attend, with

France and Canada also at an appropriate level.

I recommend that:

a).

b).

the attached draft telegram should be despatched

immediately to Canberra to pull things together

and as an expression of our views;

!

thereafter the attached draft letter to No 10

should be despatched, with a copy of the tele-

gram, as an interim report to the Prime

Minister.

4 July, 1979

c.c.

PS/Mr Marten PS/PUS

Sir A Duff

Sir A Parsons

Mr Cortazzi

SEAD

UND

FED HKGD

SPD

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DF Murray