IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A GRS 255
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243/1
TOP
31
FM HONG KONG 08123OZ.
1 CARR 1978
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY F C O 091315Z.
PA
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 445 CF 9 APRIL 1978
AND TO IMMEDIATE OSLO, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO SAVING HANOI.
39
10 APR ¡978
DLSK OFFICER INDEX
No
PA
Rs
j
See 53
56
MY TELNO 437 AND UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 5 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES,
THE NORWEGIAN CONSUL-GENERAL, AUGDAHL, HAS TOLD US THAT THE
TANKER IS NOW SOME 300 MILES SOUTH OF HONG KONG. THE CAPTAIN FEELS
UNABLE TO RISK PROCEEDING TO LOS ANGELES BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS
TO SAFETY ON BOARD AND THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OR LIFERAFTS.
2. AT AUGDAHL'S URGENT REQUEST AND WITH HIS REASSURANCE THAT ALL
THE VIETNAMESE ON BOARD WILL BE ACCEPTED IN NORWAY ON THE EARLIEST
PRACTICABLE FLIGHT, WE HAVE THEREFORE AGREED TO LET THE TANKER
ENTER HONG KONG ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
A. THE VIETNAMESE WILL NOT BE LANDED AS REFUGEES, THEY WILL BE
ALLOWED ASHORE (BUT UNDER REFUSAL OF ENTRY) FOR FOUR DAYS ONLY: B. 1 CEM WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ASSIST IN TRANSIT AND
FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS.
3. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED TO THE PRESS HERE:
QUOTE
THE TANKER JOHANNESBURG STOVE IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN
HONG KONG IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH 71 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON BOARD. THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO ACCEPT THEM IN NORWAY
AS THE COUNTRY OF FIRST ASYLUM. THEY WILL NOT BE LANDED AS REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, HOWEVER TRANSIT FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED FOR A FEW DAYS WHILE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ONWARD FLIGHT
TO NORWAY ARE MADE.
UNQUOTE
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 4. IT IS