TNAG-0898-FCO40-1108-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 205

H

HOME OFFICE

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UK V 242 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY Switchboard: 01-213 3000

1 1 OCT 1979

M62

1077

Our reference:

Your reference:

DESK OFFICER

M

INDEX

He Questair

по

(1.10

RJT McLaren Esq

Head of Hong Kong and

Please let me

General Department

King Charles Street

LONDON SW1A 2AH

Foreign and Commonwealth Office see with refs.

Dear Mcharen

انجا

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:

MOVEMENT FROM HONG KONG

Coul

pl consult twn the

The pp. E

encione unte

klegam.

9 October 1979

Discussal

wit' N Head.

Tel sent for disputed.

12th

1733

We spoke about Hong Kong telegram 1373 of 3 October in reply to FCO telegram 782 which we asked you to send on our behalf.

I enclose a draft of a telegram which you might like to send in reply to Hong Kong's 1373. The short point is, I think, that a considerable number were called forward from Hong Kong in September and ICEM were told (through MVD and the Hong Kong Government) to arrange the necessary transport for particular batches of refugees. The calling forward was obviously a little too late in September for the refugees to leave that month and the new Secretariat of the newly-formed Joint Committee on Refugees from Vietnam will in future try to call forward next month's arrivals during the first week or so of the preceding

However, I would re-emphasise that the onus does not lie entirely at our end. The par for the course, I gather, is that at least three weeks and often more will elapse between call forward and arrival and it would obviously help if this could be improved bearing in mind that those responsible for the call forward have to be reasonably confident that the accommodation is going to be available before they actually "push the button"

We spoke about our proposals on the future rate of intake and, if the Home Secretary agrees to write in the terms proposed, you will no doubt see the copy that will be sent to the Foreign Secretary in the course of next week.

your sin

Michael Head

M E HEAD

L

Enc.