169
ePS 200
MEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM BANGKOK 0809352 MAY
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 205 OF 3 MAY
AND TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONGKONG
REL PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
See 80
ра
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
- 9 MAY 1978
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
77
74
5721
صلا
YOURTEL NO. 359 AND HONGKONG TELNO(573) TO YOU: VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES ABOARD MV SIBONGA''
WE CONFIRM THAT VESSEL SAILED AT 1390 HOURS ON 6 MAY WITH
REMAINING SEVENTEEN REFUGEES ON BOARD AND ETA HONG KONG AT 1430
HOURS ON 10 MAY. CAPTAIN TOLD MISS MURDOCH SHORTLY BEFORE HE
SAILED THAT HE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN HONGKONG FOR ONLY
TWELVE HOURS.
2. CAPTAIN RECEIVED DURING MORNING OF 6 MAY TELEX MESSAGE
FROM BANK LINE SINGAPORE VIA EAST ASIATIC COMPANY BANGKOK (CHARTERERS' AGENTS) THAT ** REMAINING REFUGEES WILL BE LANDED
HONGKONG. ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND WITH FCO "'.
2,
3
''
GRATEFUL YOU ADVISE WHETHER GUARANTEE CONTAINED IN YOUR TELNO 136 SHOULD STILL BE OFFERED TO THAIS (AND TO UNHCR) IN ORDER
TO EXPEDITE PROCEDURES IN ANY FUTURE CASES.
1
4. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, CAPTAIN TOLD MISS MURDOCH THAT HE FELT
HE WOULD BE PENALISED FOR HAVING PICKED UP PEOPLE IN DANGER OF
DYING AT SEA BY HONGKONG'S ORIGINALLY PROPOSED INTENTION NOT TO
ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO LAND, IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT THERE WERE
SOME ACCUSATIONS LAST YEAR THAT BRITISH SHIPS WERE REFUSING TO RESCUE
REFUGEES AT SEA (MORGAN'S LETTER TO GORING-MORRIS OF 1 FEB 77 REFERS)
TRIPP
FILES
UND
HK & GD
SEAD
HKK 243/332/1
(1977)'
COPTES TO:
119)
MR.C.BIRT HOME OFFICE,
CROYDON
M & VD
NEWS D
PS/MR.LUARD
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
MR.WEIR
MR.MURRAY
MR.FIGG
RESTRICTED