275
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 161015Z
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HKK 243/1
0.
INDEX
TRA. 51
18 AUCET3
PA
ŻURY
on Takun
NR. Bail CLE
TO INMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.994 OF 16 AUGUST 78,
INFO PRIORITY OTTAWA,
ROUTINE: WASHINGTON, PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA,
1142
PA
M.I.P.T, PASA,2 1 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: AVON FOREST**
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF TELEGRAM FROM US CONSULATE GENERAL TO US EMBASSY IN TAIPEI (COPIED TO WASHINGTON, D.S EMBASSY LONDON AND V.S MISSION GENEVAL). BEGINS :-
(143)
1. THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ARE MOST GRATEFUL.
FOR EMBASSY WILLINGNESS TO HELP. THEY SUGGEST THAT ANY APPROACHES
COULD BE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES.
(A) THE TAIWANESE SHOULD BE ASKED TO LAND THE REFUALES, WHO SHIP'S AGENTS SAY ARE ALL ETHNIC VIETNAMESE, FOR NORMAL RESETTLEMENT
PROCESSING, MAKING POINTS (A) AND (B) IN REFTEL (A), PARA-3, LE INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE AND HONG KONG'S ATTITUDE TO TAIWANESE VESORIS
ARRIVING WITH REFUGEES, EMDASSY MAY ADD THAT WHEN REFUGEES ARE LANDED IN HONG KONG FOR PROCESSING, HO GUARANTEES ARE SOUGHT FROM
THE AUTHORITIES UNDER WHOSE FLAG THE VESSEL IS SAILING,
IF THE TAIWANESE REMAIN ADAMENT THEY SHOULD THEN BE TOLD
THAT SINCE THE AVON FOREST IS REGISTERED IN A UNITED KINGDOM
PORT, THE UNITED KINGDOM IS WILLING TO ACCEPT ALL THE NEPUGEES FROM IT WHO ARE NOT RESETTLED ELSEWHERE AFTER THREE MONTHS, THERE IS
THUS NO DANGER OF AMY OF THEOL REFUGEES REMAINING IN TAIWAN FOR
LONGER THAN THREE MONTHS
2. STRICTLY FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, IF THE TAIWANESE REJECT THIS 9.K GUARANTEE, THE HOMG KONN COVERNMENT MIGHT BE PREPARED TO HAVE THE RIFUGIES SENT BY AIR TO HONG KONG IHNEDIATELY AFTER LANDING AT KAOHSIUNG (ARRANADVIENTO WOULD BE MADE BY THE ICEM OFFICE IN MOMG KONG THROUGH THE JOINT VOLAG REP IN TAIWAN), PROVIDED THEY COULD TURN US MOVED TO AN ONWARD DESTINATION - PROBABLY THE UK OR CANADA
CONFIDENTIAL
MITHIN