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4. GIVEN THE BACKGROUND TO THE VESSELS SUDDEN APPEARANCE THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN TAKING A CAUTIOUS LINE BECAUSE OF INTENSE SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER THE VIETNAMESE ARE GENUINE REFUGEES. SAMPATKUMAR DECLINED TO COMMENT AFTER HIS INITIAL
CONSIDER THEIR TALKS WITH THE PASSENGERS, UNTIL HE HAD TIME TO STORIES. HE IS NOW REPORTED BY THE (NEXT THREE WORDS UNDERLINED) NEW STRAIGHTS TIMES AS HAVING ACCEPTED THAT THEY ARE INDEED GENUINE REFUGEES WHO QUALIFY FOR UNHCR HELP AND TO BE PLEADING WITH THE MALAYSIAN AUTHORITIES TO LET THE VIETNAMES ASHORE,
SEE MIFT
HAWLEY
2
FILES
UND
SEAD
HK & GD
MVD
FED
MAED
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
PS/MR LUARD)
MR CORTAZZI
MR WEIR
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
MR C BIRT HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
LONDON
MR SLIGHT SHIPPING POLICY DIVN
I
DOT
2