TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 103

GR 440

CONFIDENTIAL

1 HKK 243

(1472

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 270455Z JUL

TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1060 OF 27 JULY, 1979

DESK

PA

27

INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

INFO SAVING HANOI.

14444

UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 367 AND MY TELNO 1056 (NOT TO HANOI): ORGANISED RESCUE OF VIETNAM REFUGEES.

sce 14674

1. I AM DISTURBED BY THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE CONTINUING ATTEMPTS TO PROMOTE RESCUE OPERATIONS. EXPERIENCE WITH THE 'ILE DE LUMIERE SHOWED THAT RUMOURS OF ''MERCY SHIPS'' ARE SEIZED ON AVIDLY IN HO CHI MINH CITY WITH A RESULTANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS TRYING TO LEAVE AND OF THE PRICE DEMANDED FOR DOING SO (MY TELNO 1008 - NOT TO ALL). OF THOSE WHO SET OUT TO LOOK FOR A ''MERCY SHIP'' PRESUMABLY MANY NEVER ARRIVE, WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN ACT OF HUMANITY CAN IN FACT HAVE PRECISELY

THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.

·SOLEA

1529

2. IN ADDITION THERE IS THE NEW SITUATION CREATED BY THE VIETNAMESE

UNDERTAKING TO STOP ILLEGAL DEPARTURES FOR A REASONABLE PERIOD''. WHATEVER DOUBTS ABOUT THE SINCERITY OR DURATION OF THE VIETNAMESE . UNDERTAKING, IT IS IN OUR INTERESTS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT IT IS CARRIED OUT AND THAT IT LASTS. THE RESCUE SHIPS COULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FLOUT VIETNAMESE ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ILLEGAL MOVEMENT. AT THE VERY LEAST SUCH ACTION WILL PROVIDE THE VIETNAMESE WITH A READY-MADE CASE FOR CLAIMING THAT THEY. TRIED TO CONTROL ILLEGAL MOVEMENT BUT WERE UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF ATTEMPTS BY OTHERS TO ENTICE REFUGEES OUT OF VIETNAM.

/ 3. I AM CONFIDENTIAL

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