TNAG-1184-FCO40-1486-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 89

CONFIDENTIAL

From: R M Amos, Defence Secretariat Division 5a

Mr N Bown

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Main Building Whitehall London SW1A 2HB

Telephone 01-218

3085

01-218 9000

(Direct Dialling) (Switchboard)

South-East Asia Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Whitehall

London SW1A 2AH

Your reference

Our reference

Mr. Barton

Dey (265

Pl.copy to SEAD

Mr. Danks' Meet letter

explaining that there are

ottia ciranostances in

и небед

Such this

Muly

2. We wght do to mitt

to Mas plty an Down's ports: please let me have andrest.

D/DS5/5/4/1

Date

21 October 1982

THE 24/10

Geeze See 269

....HKK 243/1

27

Dear Mr Bown,

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: OPPOSED TOWING OF CRAFT

Attached.

Reference:

A.

CAPIC Hong Kong's letter dated 22 Jul 82 213 B. HKK 243/1 dated 24 Sep 82

1.

PIOLA

No

The AF25/01

In view of SEAD's experience with the subject of Vietnamese refugees,

I would be most grateful for your advice regarding the draft operational order covered by reference A which has been prepared by the Royal Hong Kong Police. As you will see from the attached copy, this proposes that certain vessels and their occupants should be towed out of Hong Kong Territorial waters by Royal Navy patrol craft.

2. I have, of course, consulted the Hong Kong and General Department, whose reply is attached but in view of your department's past experience in the matter of these refugees, especially regarding Brunei in 1980, you may wish to comment. Our prime cóncern is, of course, that no matter how thorough we might be in ensuring that boats are seaworthy and well-provisioned, merely seen to be towing refugees out to sea could be politically embarrassing. It has been suggested that the task should be left to the Royal Hong Kong Police, however they are not legally empowered to leave the Territorial waters. We are strongly inclined to reject this proposal but would welcome any comment you may have.

3. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Hong Kong and General and Defence Departments.

JM/5

CONFIDENTIAL

Yours sincerely, RMAmos