GRS 260
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
RESTRICTED
FM SINGAPORE 1100302 JUL
RESTRICTED
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 217 OF 11 JULY
ва
HKK 243 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
1 1 JUL 1978.
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Tan
No RS: "Ini Cas
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, TOKYO AND UKMIS GENEVA.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : THE CYS HOPE
1.
THE CYS HOPE, A LIBERIAN REGISTERED TANKER OWNED BY ITEL GEMINI INC OF HONG KONG, IS NOW IN SINGAPORE WITH 23 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES (INCLUDING TEN WOMEN AND THREE CHILDREN) PICKED UP
IN THE OPEN SEA SOME TWO WEEKS AGO.
(113
2a THE HOPE CALLED AT SINGAPORE ON 23/24 JUNE WITH THE REFUGEES ON BOARD, BUT APPARENTLY NO ATTEMPT WAS THEN MADE TO GET THEM OFF. IT HAS SINCE BEEN TO COLOMBO, WHERE THE VIETNAMESE WERE REFUSED TEMPORARY ASYLUM DESPITE APPEALS BY THE UNHCR.
30 THE UNHCR OFFICE HERE HAVE APPROACHED A NUMBER OF MISSIONS AND HAVE OBTAINED GUARANTEES FOR THREE OF THE PARTY FROM THE
FRENCH AND BELGIANS. THE REMAINDER WISHED TO GO TO THE U S,' BUT THE US EMBASSY ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM WASHINGTON HAVE NOW
TURNED THEM DOWN, DESPITE A PERSONAL INTERVENTION FROM THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES WITH THE US MISSION IN
GENEVA.
40
AS A LAST RESORT THE UNHCR HAVE APPROACHED US INFORMALLY
ON THE STRENGTH OF THE HONG KONG CONNECTION.
WE REPLIED THAT WE HAD NO INSTRUCTIONS AND COULD NOT (NOT) SPEAK FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THE UNHCR DID NOT PRESS US FURTHER AND WE HAVE NOT (NOT) BEEN APPROACHED BY THE SHIP'S AGENTS OR THE SINGAPOREANS. THE SHIP IS
DUE TO SAIL ON 10 JULY FOR JAPAN, AND THE UNHCR ARE NOW PREPARING TO FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON THE JAPANESE.
RESTRICTED
15.INCIDENTALLY