GR 400
IMMEDIATE
DC BY 080900Z
CYPHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 080240Z
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Pat Morgan is contenting the Home
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Jara 2
ник 243
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 575 OF 8 MAY 1978
INFO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK AND PRIORITY UKMIS GENELANDEX
74
- 8 MAY 1978
DESK OFFICER
ло
YOUR TELNO 359: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD MV SIBONG,
1.
PA
REGISTRY [Action Taken
BANGKOK HAVE TOLD US (TELECONS GORING-MORRIS/ORR, AND MURDOCH/ORR) THAT DESPITE EVERY EFFORT IT PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO
OBTAIN A DECISION FROM THE THAIS ON 6 MAY AND THE CAPTAIN WOULD
NOT AGREE TO REMAIN LONGER IN BANGKOK. THE SHIP HAS NOW LEFT
WITH THE REMAINING 17 REFUGEES ON BOARD. THE CAPTAIN EXPECTS
TO ARRIVE HERE ON 10 MAY AT 1400 HOURS LOCAL.
2.
FACED WITH THIS FAIT ACCOMPLI THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST PORT OF CALL CAN BE PRESERVED WILL BE TO
TREAT THESE REFUGEES IN THE SAME WAY AS THOSE WHO ARRIVED RECENTLY
ON A NORWEGIAN TANKER. THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED ASHORE UNDER
REFUSAL OF ENTRY WHILE TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE. HOWEVER
THE AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL HAS TOLD US THAT NONE OF THE REFUGEES WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED IN THE U S COULD BE
PROCESSED IN FOUR DAYS. BECAUSE OF THE TIME TAKEN TO OBTAIN
SPONSORS IT USUALLY TAKES THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE FORAMLITIES.
WE THEREFORE HOPE YOU CAN CONFIRM THAT THE IMPLICATION OF YOUR
PARA 2 LAST SENTENCE IS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ALL
17 WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF THEIR ARRIVAL HERE, WE HAVE EMPHASISED TO
THE US CONSUL-GENERAL THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THE AMERICANS TO TREAT THE U K AS THE COUNTRY OF FIRST REFUGE AND THAT ALL THOSE
WHO HAVE CLAIMS TO SETTLEMENT IN THE US WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY
FROM THE UK. BANGKOK HAVE TOLD US THAT AFTER FURTHER INTERVIEWS
THE AMERICANS NOW THINK ONLY ONE FAMILY OF FIVE MAY PROVE ELIGIBLE
FOR ENTRY TO THE US.
13. OUR
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