TNAG-1527-FCO40-2091-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 21

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE "REGINE" CASE

4.

Since my minute of 17 April we have heard that the

French Government has agreed to the request from the "Regine's" co-sponsors to guarantee up to 300 resettlement

places. This guarantee, together with the earlier offer

from the FRG to accept 150, has enabled the 328 refugees picked up by the "Regine" to be disembarked in Manila to

await resettlement. The "Regine" has now put to

to sea again

to find more refugees, presumably to use up the balance of

places covered by the French guarantee. It is therefore

still possible that at a later stage the "Regine" may attempt to enter Hong Kong waters to disembark refugees,

possibly more than are covered by the outstanding 122 places provided by the French.

сбыт

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

1 May 1986

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