PP WASHINGTON
RR OTTAWA
GRS 219
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 091215Z MAY 83
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CONFIDENT
Arlls
AMURIOSU
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MECHBO P$30
X3ONI
KULUSIDAY NI GRADEOFE
HKK 2431
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Kopy has been passed
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TO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 770 OF 9 MAY
INFO UKMIS GENEVA, PARIS, CANBERRA, HONG KONG, HANOI, OTTAWA.
43
MY TELNO 125 TO UKMIS GENEVA : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
YOU SHOULD ALSO TAKE ACTION ON THE LINES OF PARAGRAPH 4 OF
TUR.
YOU SHOULD ALSO INFORM THE AMERICANS THAT WE HAVE GIVEN
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE POSSIBILITY OF PERMITTING HONG
KONG TO REPATRIATE BOAT PEOPLE TO VIETNAM AND TO TURN BOATS
AWAY TO SEA. WE HAVE CONCLUDED ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS THAT
NEITHER COURSE COULD BE JUSTIFIED. THIS UNDERLINES HONG KONG'S
DIFFICULTIES RESULTING FROM DIMINISHING RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HOPE WE CAN COUNT ON THE US TO TAKE A MORE POSITIVE VIEW OF
THIS PROBLEM AND CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WORLD IN SHOULDERING THE
BURDEN OF RESETTLING REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. AMBASSADOR
DOUGLAS ON HIS TOUR IN NOVEMBER HINTED THAT THE AMERICANS MIGHT
BE PREPARED TO PICK UP THE OUTSTANDING BACKLOG IN A FEW YEARS'
TIME.
WE BELIEVE IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION
IN THESE TERMS NOW. EVEN IF THE AMERICANS WILL DO NO MORE NOW,
A FIRMER COMMITMENT TO HELP CLEAR THE BACKLOG IN DUE COURSE
WOULD DO MUCH TO CALM HONG KONG'S FEARS OF BEING LEFT WITH A
RESIDUE, AND REASSURE THEM DURING THE SUMMER PERIOD WHEN THEIR
REFUGEE POPULATION IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO SHOW ANOTHER SHARP
SEASONAL RISE.
PYM
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
BOAT PEOPLE
PS
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
BOAT PEOPLE
SEAD
PS/PUS
HK & GD
MR WRIGHT
UND
MR GIFFARD
FED
PUSD
NEWS D MAED
MR DONALD MR ADAMS MR URE
CONFIDENTIAL
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