GPS 300
RESTRICTED
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER Сата
FM BANGKOK
EXAVER COAT B10442 MAY See HKK 24.3/1.
PESTRICTED
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 196 OF 3 MAY
AND TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONGJNG
RECEIVED IN MAS
-
- 4 MAY 1973
DESK OFF:
INDEX
PA
201
CRY
Taken
65
RFI IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA.
по
DESKBY 731230Z
FOR MORGAN UNITED NATIONS DEPT. (COPIED FOR INFORMATION TO SEAD) 1. BRITISH SHIP, MV "'SIBONGA**, REGISTERED LIVERPOOL, GROSS TOHÑÁGE 7.,545, HAS PICKED UP 30 (THIRTY) VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES AND IS DUE TO BERTH BANGKOK 2200 HOURS LOCAL TIME TODAY
(3 MAY).
2. VESSEL IS UNDER CHARTER TO EAST ASIATIC COMPANÝ COPENHAGEN FROM
BANK LINE. CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH REFUGEES PICKED UP STILL
UNKNOWN BUT VESSEL WAS SAILING FROM JAKARTA TO BANGKOK WITH
GENERAL CARGO AND CONTAINERS.
EARLY ON 6 MAY.
3
SHE IS DUE TO SAIL FOR HONG KONG
UNHCR HAVE TOLD US THAT GUARANTEE IS REQUIRED BY THAI
COVERNMENT FROM COUNTRY UNDER WHOSE FLAG VESSEL IS SAILING THAT
REFUGEES WILL BE ACCEPTED IN THAT COUNTRY, IF NO OTHER COUNTRY IS WILLING TO TAKE THEM, BEFORE REFUGEES PERMITTED TO DISEMBARK INTO TRANSIT CAMP.
THEY
4. UNHCR WILL INTERVIEW ALL REFUGEES TOMORROW MORNING. HAVE CONTACTED AUSTRALIAN AND US EMBASSIES WHO WILL SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO INTERVIEW REFUGEES IF UNHCR INTERVIEWS SHOW JJEFUGEES TO HAVE GOOD CLAIM TO SETTLEMENT IN THOSE COUNTRIES. FRENCH EMBASSY CLOSED UNTIL TOMORROW BUT UNHCR BELIEVE EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVE WILL SIMILARLY AGREE TO INTERVIEW IF REFUGEES APPEAR TO HAVE GOOD CLAIM TO SETTLEMENT.
5.
SHOULD A/M EMBASSIES NOT AGREE TO PROVIDE GUARANTEE S OR PROVIDE FOR ONLY SOME OF REFUGEES WE ARE LIKELY TO BE FACED WITH REQUIREMENT FOR GUARANTEE TO THAI AUTHORITIES OF SETTLEMENT IN UK. ONLY ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO LET VESSEL SAIL TO HONGKONG WITH REFUGEES.
6. GRATEFUL YOUR EARLY VOMMENTS. PLEASE ALSO ADVISE SOONEST WHETHER OWNERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN INFORMED BY THEIR AGENTS ANGLO THAI SERVICES IN BANGKOK AND WHETHER OWNERS HAVE ALREADY APPROACHED YOU.
TRIPP
FILES
SEAD UN3
MV-D CONS. D
HROGD
RESTRICTED