Reference
286
280
FLAG A
FLAG C
attatches
Mr Simons SEAD
RESTRICTED
HKK 243/1
5
CEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
14 NOV 1978
DESK OFIC
PA
INDEX.
No
RECUTRY
Action Taken
CLE रह
el.sentã
HIC
рет
ETHNIC CHINESE BOAT REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
1.
We had a word about paragraph 4 of Hong Kong telegram no 1286 FLAG Band you will have since seen our reply, which was cleared with
your Department. You may not have noticed the attached article in yesterday's Daily Telegraph. Ian Ward in my time in Singapore was not the most reliable of reporters, but his article contains, for the first time that I have seen, the allegation that the ethnic Chinese are being got out of Cholon through an "escape racket" organised from Hong Kong. It seems to me not at all improbable that this is true. The fact that it has been reported in the British press is likely to influence public attitudes to the behaviour of the Hong Kong Government if, and when, they find hemselves in a position of wishing to refuse permission to land To a boat load of Vietnamese refugees. Hong Kong Department may, therefore, wish to consider bringing this allegation to the attention of the Hong Kong Government. Paragraph 7 of Hong Kong tel no 1301, asking for texts of any BBC World Service reports abou, the Hi long or the more general question of boat refugees allegedly aided by the Vietnamese authorities, refers.
PLAG D
284
10 November 1978
R Stimson
United Nations Department K152 233-3130
Cc:
Mr Thompson HKGD
Mr Morgan
UNI
CODE 18-77
RESTRICTED
↓