TNAG-1529-FCO40-2093-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

KRITI JADE as RASRO cases - a letter dated 12 June from Mr Wood in Hanoi to Stephen Nash refers - because Australian investigation had established that syndicates in Australia, US and Vietnam had arranged the departure and rescue of these so-called refugees, many of whom were in the pipeline for the US ODP. Australia considered that this type of organised ship "rescue" should not be tolerated under RASRO - the same applies to "mercy ships" - although Australia would be prepared to consider the 67 as family reunion cases in the normal way and in the more usual time-scale.

Yous ever

Chris

cc S T Nash Esq, SEAD, FCO

C Leeks Esq, HKD, FCO UN 243/14

for

Miss D-J Walker

CONFIDENTIAL