PP PEKING
GR 210
CYPHER CAT A
FM FCO 13172CZ
Rii.
26
30
RESTRICTED
TO PRIORITY PEKING TELVO 514 OF 13 JULY,
FOLLOWING TELN NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF NEPT
WAS RECEIVED FROM UKHTS GENEVA TELVO 205 OF 12 JULY.
BEGINS:
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 305 OF 12 JULY INFO PRIORITY GOV HONG KONG INFO RANGOON INFO SAVING PANOL,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
'AVA'', IS NOW OFF
1. THE UNHCR REPORT THAT A BURMESE SHIP, THE HONG KONG WITH 93 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON BOARD. THE REFUGEES, 26 KEMEN, 24 WOMEN, AND 48 CHILDREN MERE PICKED UP FROM A SHIPWRECK 200 VILES SOUTH EAST OF HO-CHI-RINEVILLE (SAIGON). THE UNHCR UNDERSTAND THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAVE REFUSED TO ALLOW THE **AVA'' TO 70CK, AND TO PERMIT THE REFUGEES TO DISEMBARK, BURMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE ASKED THE UNHCR TO 30 WHAT THEY CAN TO FACILITATS THE PAVA’O'250CCING AT PO:G KONG.
2. IF THE REFUGEES WERE TO BE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK AT HONG KONG THE UNHCR WOULD BE PREPARED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF THEIR CARE AND TAINTEVANOS THERE. THEY WOULD ALSO UNDERTAKE TO FIND THEY COUNTRIES OF RESETTLEMENT AND TO SEND THEIR KUALA LUMPUR REPRESENTATIVE, SAMPATKUVAR, TO HONG KONG TO INTERVIEW THE REFUGEES. THEY HOPE THAT IS THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WILL RECONSIDER THEIR DECISIO..
3. GRATEFUL FOR EARLY DISTRUCTIONS ON THE RESPONSE WE SHOULD MAKE TO UNHOR'S APPROACH.
ENDS
CROSALAND