TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 122

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FM DUBLIN 2615432 JULY

TO PRIORITY FCO

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 173 OF 26 JULY 1979.

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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HKK 243|!.

PAJ 2727

1. TOM LYONS, THE COUNSELLOR AT THE DFA IN CHARGE OF ASIAN AFFAIRS HAS TOLD US THAT THE IRISH GOVERNMENT HAVE DECIDED THAT THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED REFUGEES ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC SHOULD COME FROM HONG KONG. WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT

THIS DECISION IS A RESULT OF OUR STRENUOUS LOBBYING EFFORTS. THE

IRISH GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO DECIDED TO PAY FOR THEIR TRAVEL E

EXPENSES.

2.

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4/1470

THE REFUGEES ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO THE IRISH REPUBLIC ON (11473)

3 OR 9 AUGUST. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIICR HAVE APPARENTLY AGREED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG. THE IRISH EMBASSY IN LONDON HAVE ALSO BELN INSTRUCTED TO

INFORM THE FCO OF THE IRISH PLAN.

3. LYONS SAID THAT A SECOND GROUP OF ONE HUNDRED REFUGEES IS TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE IRISH, BUT THEY WILL PROBABLY BE TAKEN FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN HONG KONG.

HAYDON

.

PS/LPS PS/MR HURD' PS/ER BLAKER PS/PUS

FILES SEAD

NEWS D M & VD

HR FERGUSSON

ADDITIONAL DISTN

MR FRETWELL.

HK & GD

PS

BOAT PEOPLE

UND

FED

EESD

NAX D

SAD

EID

PUSD

01 IPD

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS

MR CORTAZZI

MR STRATION

LORD NG LENNOX

MR BULLARD

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