GRS 175
OMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM BRASILIA 15:2006Z
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
PRE
**^. 51
1 8 JUL 1977
WILK 243/302/1
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 178 OF 15 JULY 1977 AND TO IMMEDIATE
GOVERNOR HONG KONG.
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA.
LAST
REF.
NEXT
2.
Q3
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. A MEMBER OF MY STAFF WAS SUMMONED THIS AFTERNOON TO THE
CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS TO BE INFORMED THAT A BRAZILIAN OIL TANKER, THE ''FROTA SANTOS'' REGISTERED AT RIO DE JANEIRO AND ON PASSAGE FROM SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG, HAD PICKED UP SOME 70 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ADRIFT IN A JUNK. THE NUMBER WAS UNDERSTOOD TO INCLUDE A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THE VESSEL WAS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE TODAY IN
HONG KONG,
2. THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS HAVE RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANY'S OWNERS, FROTA OCEANICA SA OF RIO DE JANEIRO AND ARE TELEGRAPHING THE BRAZILIAN CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG. THE MINISTRY UNDERSTAND THAT THE SHIP'S MASTER HAS ALSO INFORMED THE CONSUL GENERAL BY TELEGRAPH AND THEY ARE
INFORMING THE UNHCR VIA THEIR MISSION IN GENEVA.
3. THE MINISTRY APPEAR TO BE AT A CONSIDERABLE LOSS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THESE REFUGEES, WE DECLINED TO BE DRAWN ON THE LIKELY REACTION OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES BUT UNDERTOOK TO REPORT
THE MATTER TO YOU AT ONCE.
STATHAM
FILES
SEAD
HK & GD
SAM D
UND
MVD
NEWS D OID
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
RESTRICTED