TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 316

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The Right Honourable Margaret Thatcher MP

It is significant that the Russians who have vast areas which remain under populated have made no move towards receiving refugees, although it is very understandable that none of them would wish to go there. The position of Japan, with its already very large population, is more difficult but Indonesia although heavily over populated in Java and with racial problems has a great many islands which would profitably be cultivated. The Philippines could take some and Australia and Canada could make a great contribution. A proportion at least of those refugees whom we are able to receive ought in time to be accepted by other countries on which we could bring some pressure.

I agree of course that our immediate problem is to relieve Hong Kong of a situation which as I know very well from Murray MacLehose and from what I have seen there is quite intolerable. I have not much hope that Vietnam will be shamed into abandoning her policy but emphasis on the Soviet responsibility for it might have some effect on the Russians.

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Сс The Right Honourable

The Lord Carrington KCMG MG

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