TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 103

My Mclaren (408G

Meloven.

Inikiam

HKK 243/1 18.7

?

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

KECORD OF BRIEFING MEETING FOR MINISTER OF STATE, 1430 hrs, TUESDAY 17 JULY 1979 IN K196.

8797

Present

Minister of State

Sir Murray Mac Lehose

Dr Wilson, Political Adviser, Hong Kong

Mr Fard, Secretary for Information, Hong Kong

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Murray

Mr Woodfield, Deputy Secretary Home Office

Mr Flower, SEAD

Mr Stitt, SEAD

Mr Munro, PS/Mr Blaker

Mr Christopher, News Department

THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED UNTIL

UNDER FOI

EXEMPTION No .38..

1.

Sir Murray Mac Lehose reported to the Minister on the earlier

Mr Cortazzi drew the discussions with the Home Secretary. Minister's attention to the importance of ensuring that the question of phasing of the resettlement of the additional UK commitment of 10,000 refugees should be handled with extreme caution in Geneva, particularly with the press.

Malaysian Home Minister's Visit

Mr Blaker briefly described his meeting with Tan Sri Gazali

Shafie.

2.

He drew particular attention to the exchange on the question of the establishment of large processing centres in Vietnam, which

he had explained the Malaysians were intending to propose in Geneva:

our strong opposition to this idea, because of the danger of the centres turning into concentration camps financed by the western donors. He believed he had fought a draw with the Malaysian Minister but that the Malaysians would still put the proposal forward in Geneva. Mr Cortazzi said that there were indications that the USA was attracted by this idea. (See separate Record of Conversation.)

/Japanese

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