TNAG-0897-FCO40-1107-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 244

GR 180

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG 310849Z AUG 79

TO IMMEDIATE COPENHAGEN

TELNO.2 OF 31 AUGUST,

(1647)

RESTRICTED

1. HKK 243

ра

RESOVE

INFO PRIORITY: F.C.0, UKMIS GENEVA,

1.

ROUTINE

WASHINGTON, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

YOUR TELNOS.3 AND 5 3 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : 'ANNA MAERSK'.

IN DISCUSSIONS TODAY WITH THE DANISH CONSULATE-GENERAL AND THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE, WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT THE REFUGEES WILL BE MOVED ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THAT THERE IS EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THIS WILL BE IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH. WE HAVE ALSO JUST COMPLETED SATISFACTORY PROCESSING OF THE SHIP BY MARINE

POLICE AND IMMIGRATION. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE HAVE NOW TOLD THE CONSULATE-GENERAL THAT THE REFUGEES WILL BE ALLOWED ASHORE TOMORROW MORNING, THUS ENSURING THAT THE SHIP CAN KEEP TO HER

ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.

2. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF THOSE

WITH RELATIVES IN THE U.S COULD BE ACCEPTED BY THE AMERICANS FOR EARLY RESETTLEMENT, GIVEN THE AVAILABILITY OF THE DANISH OFFER.

WE BELIEVE THE CONSULATE-GENERAL AND UNHCR ARE AWARE GENERALLY

OF THIS, THOUGH FINAL INDICATIONS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE UNTIL THE

U.S CONSULATE-GENERAL HAS HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL DETAILS

MACLEHOSE

FILES

€

PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SEAD

PS

HK & GD

UND

FED

N AM D

SAD

MAED

EID

PUSD

OID

IPD

NEWS D MVD

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY MR STRATTON

LORD NG LENNOX

MÆ PÄVulka MR FERGUSSON MR FRETVELL

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

BOAT PEOPLE

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