TNAG-1422-FCO40-1905-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 16

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FROM: KEN WOODHOUSE, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, SECURITY BRANCH FOLLOWING FOR: C, LEEKS AND MISS D.J. WALKER

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: BBC BROADCASTS

AS YOU ARE AWARE (MY TELNO NY/GEN/188), THE AMERICANS ARE QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE BBC VIETNAMESE SERVICE BROADCA- STING NEWS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FRENCH MERCY SHIPS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXPLAINED THE DANGERS TO VOA AND TO HAVE

RECEIVED AN ASSURANCE THAT THE EFFORTS OF THESE SHIPS WOULD NOT (NOT) BE PUBLICISED.

2. THESE SHIPS CREATE MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE. WHEN M WAS 'IN PARIS, MARCHAND MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE FRENCH. THE AMERICANS HAVE SAID THAT THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION NOT (NOT) TO PROCEED WITH THE RASRO TRANSIT CENTRE WAS THE RESULT OF BEING LANDED WITH 500 SHIP RESCUESCASES

FROM ONE OF THE MERCY SHIPS. THE AMERICANS ARE NOW TELLING US THAT

OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE ARRIVALS IS BEING UNDERMINED BY THE BBC BROADCASTS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD RESPOND BY SAYING THAT

THE BBC HAVE TAKEN THE POINT AND ARE NOT (NOT) NOW REFERRING TO THE MERCY SHIPS.

3. WE WILL HAVE A FURTHER INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE IF WE AGREE TO

PROVIDE A RASRO TRANSHT CENTRE IN HONG KONG.

4. WOULD PT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO LET US KNOW WHETHER THE BBC

HAVE RESPONDED TO THE DISCUSSIONS NASH HAD WITH THEM (HIS TELETTER

OF 20 NOVEMBER)?

SIGNED.....

K.J. WOODHOUSE

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