GRS 680
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 080835Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
REGISTRY NO. 51
8 JUL1976
19
LAST
LOP CORY
MKK 243/520
REF
16
BE!
20)
TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NO 693 OF 8 JULK
INFO PRIORITY RANGOON, TOKYO, PEKING, HANOI AND VIENTIANE (PLEASE PASS CONFIRMATION COPY SAVING HANOI).
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 674 OF 6 JULY: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
WATERS
M.Y. 'AVA' NOW LIES JUST OUTSIDE HONG KONG TERRITORIAL AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS FROM RANGOON. IT IS A STATE-OWNED VESSEL, WITH BURMESE MASTER AND CREW. MASTER HAS STATED THAT HE HAS ON BOARD 99 VIETNAMESE WHOM HE RESCUED FROM FOUNDERING FISHING BOAT AFTER SIGHTING OF DISTRESS FLARES.
2. MEANWHILE A SECOND VESSEL WITH 16 VIETNAMESE ABOARD DECLARED ITSELF TO THE POLICE ON ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG ON 7 JULY. THE GROUP SAID THEY WERE REFUGEES FROM DANANG WHICH THEY LEFT ON 4 JULY, LEADER OF PARTY (WHICH IS WELL-TO-DO) HAS CONFIRMED THEY ORIGINALLY HAD NO INTENTION OF HEADING FOR HONG KONG AND THEY APPEAR WILLING TO LEAVE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE DESTINATION PROVIDED THEY CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS CAN BE DONE IN SAFETY. WE ARE EXPLORING THIS POSSIBILITY WITH THE CREW, WHO ARE CONFINED TO THEIR VESSEL FOR THE TIME BEING. THEY HAVE FORMALLY BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND.
3. DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION MET BURMESE CONSUL-GENERAL, MR THET WE, ON 8 JULY TO DISCUSS THE REFUGEES ON M.V. 'AVA'. CONSUL- GENERAL EXPLAINED THAT THE MASTER OF THE 'AVA" WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DETENTION OF THE REFUGEES ON BOARD AND WAS UNWILLING TO ENTER HONG KONG UNTIL THIS WAS RESOLVED. THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE PRESENT INDICATIONS WERE THAT THE REFUGEES WOULD BE REFUSED LANDING AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DETENTION LAY WITH THE MASTER. CONSUL-GENERAL WAS TOLD THAT WHILST HIS DIFFICULTIES WERE APPRECIATED, HONG KONG WAS UNABLE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY MORE REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND NO EXCEPTIONS COULD BE MADE TO NORMAL POLICIES FOR ADMISSION, MEDICAL FACILITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND INDIVIDUAL Rovn û
REFUGEES MIGHT QUALIFY FOR ADMISSION, BUT IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE the. Quiao
/WOULD NOT
nordenco Status(7 years); huwartorian eonfiderations.
CONFIDENTIAL