GR 200
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 50
14 MAY 1975
LAST
MOXT
REF.
うえ
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(83
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 140758Z
NICK 14/25
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 476 OF 14 MAY INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, PRIORITY CANBERRA, STOCKHOLM, COPENHAGEN, OTTAWA, PARIS.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
US CONSULATE-GENERAL HAVE INFORMED US THAT US SHIP, THE 'OREGON' OF STATES LINES, HAVING PICKED UP 103 SOUTH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, IS DUE TO ARRIVE HONG KONG EITHER LATE TOMORROW OR EARLY MORNING 16 MAY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT REFUGEES WERE REFUSED
PERMISSION TO LAND IN BANGKOK WHEN SHIP DOCKED THERE.
2. AMERICANS ARE AWARE OF OUR REFUSAL OF PERMISSION TO LAND IN THE
53)CASE OF THE 27 ON THE MS JAPAN (YOUR TELNO. 367 OF 9 MAY). HOWEVER,
US CONSUL-GENERAL HOPES THAT WE MIGHT GIVE THEM TEMPORARY FACILITIES HERE, IF HE IS IN A POSITION TO GIVE A SATISFACTORY GUARANTEE
•
THAT THE 103, WILL PROCEED ONWARDS TO GUAM OR THE U S. HE IS URGENTLY CONTACTING US TASK FORCE IN WASHINGTON.
3. SHORT STOP-OVER FACILITES COULD BE ALLOWED HERE PROVIDED:
(A) THAT GROUP COULD NOT COME ASHORE UNTIL THEY HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED, IF NECESSARY BY A SUITABLE LETTER FROM THE US CONSUL-GENERAL ON THE SPOT:
"
B) THAT THEY WOULD STOP-OVER IN HONG KONG ONLY UNTIL FIRST AVAILABLE MEANS OF ONWARD TRANSPORT:
(C) THAT THE SPONSORING BODY OR COUNTRY ACCEPTED COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACCOMMODATION AND EXPENSES IN HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
14. IF THESE