TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 127

Mr Cortazzi

cc: PS/Mr Blaker

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INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES: LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER FROM LORD SHAWCROSS

1.

Lord Shawcross wrote to the Prime Minister on 16 July, in response to her reply of 12 July to his letter of 27 June. No 10 have asked for a very brief draft reply for the Prime

Minister to send.

I submit a draft and a draft covering Private Secretary

letter.

2.

3. In his latest letter, Lord Shawcross argues that the refugee exodus is part of Vietnamese, and Soviet, policy to destabilize South East Asia; that the ASEAN countries and Hong Kong need more help; that the Philippines, Australia and Canada could take many refugees; and that we should pass to others some of the refugees we accept. This last point, which Lord Shawcross made in his earlier letter, also, is impractic- able for obvious reasons: to name but one, because it would detract greatly from the lead which Lord Shawcross himself argues the UK should give.

in the drayt reply

As requested by No 10, I have given an appropriate summary of the outcome of Geneva and avoided detailed argument.

4.

I attach for reference the statement on the Geneva meeting

made in the House of Lords by Lord Trefgarne on 24 July.

5.

26 July 1979

RP Flower

South East Asian Department

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