TNAG-1527-FCO40-2091-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 31

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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 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.

Colum

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

1 May 1986

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