GR 350
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
HKk943/1
1 CARR 1978
RECEIVEL
D
10 APR 1973
FM HONG KONG 0710312 M
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE
F C O TELNO 437 OF 7 APRIL 1978.
INFO IMMEDIATE OSLO, PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
INFO SAVING HANOI.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
IK.
See (51)
56,
49)
A NORWEGIAN VESSEL, JOHANNESBURG STOVE (EN ROUTE FROM INDONESIA
TO THE UNITED STATES), HAS PICKED UP 71 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SOUTH-EAST OF TAIWAN, ALTHOUGH THE NEXT
SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL IS LOS ANGELES THE LOCAL AGENTS, THORESEN LINE COMPANY, HAVE ASKED IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IF THE REFUGEES COULD BE LANDED HERE TEMPORARILY. IN LINE WITH NORMAL PRACTICE THEY WERE TOLD THAT WE COULD NOT AGREE TO THE SHIP DIVERTING TO HONG KONG TO LAND THE REFUGEES UNLESS THERE WERE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MADE IT UNAVOIDABLE. (AS YOU KNOW, WE DO OF COURSE ACCEPT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHEN HONG KONG IS THE NEXT
PORT OF CALL OF THE SHIP WHICH HAS RESCUED THEM.
RME
2. THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION HAS INFORMED THE NORWEGIAN CONSULATE GENERAL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF UNHCR IN KUALA LUMPUR OF OUR DECISION. THE NORWEGIAN CONSUL GENERAL HAS SAID THAT NORWAY WILL GUARANTEE SETTLEMENT IF HOMES CANNOT BE FOUND FOR THE REFUGEES ELSEWHERE. THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR EUROPEAN MIGRATION (WHO ACT FOR THE UNHCR IN HONG KONG) HAVE SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR THE GROUP IF IT CAME: BUT, IN THAT CASE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COPE WITH ANY FURTHER GROUPS FOR THE TIME BEING.
3. WE CAN EXPECT FURTHER SHIP REFUGEES NOW THAT SAILING CONDITIONS ARE AGAIN FAVOURABLE. (126 ARRIVED IN MARCH). WE ARE
THEREFORE MOST ANXIOUS THAT ALL THE AVAILABLE FACILITIES SHOULD NOT
(REPEAT NOT) BE PRE-EMPTED BY ONE LARGE GROUP WITH NO LEGITIMATE
CONFIDENTIAL
/ CLAIM