CONFIDENTIAL
GR 340
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 250725Z
CONFIDENTIAL
HKIS 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY GO. 51 2 5 SEP 1978
DESK OFFICER
PA
RY
Action Ten
PA
193
INDEX
No
CLS
TO ROUTINE HANOI TELNO.80 OF 25 SEPTEMBER 73,
INFO F.C.0.
REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM.
1. ON 10 AUGUST, TWELVE REFUGEES (ALL ETHNIC VIETNAMESE) ARRIVED
HERE IN A SMALL FISHING JUNK ''MINHOA'' REGISTRATION NO.DN-8968- T06. MARINE POLICE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THEM, PHAM VAN NHO, A WATCHMAN, AGED 63, WAS TIED UP WHEN THE OTHER ELEVEN SEIZED
THE VESSEL WHILE IN PORT NEAR DANANG ON 4 AUGUST. HE HAS SIGNED.
HE SAYS THAT HIS A STATEMENT THAT HE WISHES TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. WIFE, TRUONG THI DIEM, AND SIX CHILDREN LIVE WITH THE OWNER OF THE JUNK, TRUONG VAN SUI, ẤT THANH KHÊ 5, THANH LỌC DẠNG QUAN 11, DANANG.
2. AS IT WAS ALLEGED THAT PHAM WAS KEPT UNDER RESTRAINT AFTER THE
VESSEL ENTERED HONG KONG, SOME OF THE REFUGEES MAY HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE HERE. HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS FOUND THAT THE GUILT OF THOSE WHO ACTUALLY OVERPOWERED PHAM COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO ALL THE REFUGEES AND PHAM WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIS ASSAILANTS. THERE WAS THEREFORE INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
TO PROSECUTE ANY OF THE REFUGEES.
RE COUL
3. THERE COULD BE NO QUESTION OF RETURNING THE REFUGEES TO VIETNAM,
WE HAVE BUT WE MAY RECEIVE A REQUEST FOR THE RETURN OF THE VESSEL. RETAINED CONTROL OF THE VESSEL WHICH IS IN POOR CONDITION AND COULD NOT SAFELY BE SAILED BACK TO VIETNAM. WE SUGGEST THAT NO MENTION BE MADE OF THE VESSEL TO THE VIETNAMESE, BUT IF THEY RAISE THE MATTER IT MIGHT BE SIMPLEST TO SUGGEST THAT THE BOAT BE SOLD HERE.
(THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH A SALE WOULD PROBABLY BE MEAGRE).
14. OUR
CONFIDENTIAL