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BOTH CLAIMS ARE IMPLAUSIBLE, (A) BECAUSE A 30-YEAR OLD FREIGHTER IS
UNLIKELY TO BE USED FOR A NEW SHIPPING VENTURE (REFUGEE-TRAFFIC EXCEPTED) IN THE REGION AND (B) BECAUSE THE VESSEL IS NOT ELEGIEE FOR LIBERIAN REGISTRATION SINCE IT IS OVER 20 YEARS OLD AND HAS HOT BEEN REGISTERED BEFORE IN LIBERIA.
5. MORRIS HAS ALSO PASSED HIS ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING TO LOCAL
AUSTRALIAN AND U.S.A MISSIONS AND TO SAMPATKUMAR (UNHCR IN KUALA
LUMPUR) WHOM HE WILL LEAVE TO REPORT TO UNHCR IN GENEVA. DOES NOT INTEND TO GIVE DETAILS TO THE PRESS HERE.
6. WE SHALL REPORT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
HE
MEANWHILE WE HAVE NO
SIGN YET OF THE OTHER VESSEL MENTIONED IN MY TELNO.1286,
7. GRATEFUL FOR TEXT OF ANY REPORTS PUT CUT BY BBC WORLD SERVICE ON THE ''HI HONG'' OR ON THE QUESTION OF BOAT REFUGEES AIDED BY
THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.
MACLEHOSE
FILES:
UND
SEAD
HK & G D
MVD
FED
COPIES TO:
MR C. BIRT HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
MAED
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
FS/MR LUARD
MR CORTAZZI
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON MR SLIGHT
SHIPPING FOLICY DIVN
DOT
MK WEIR
MR MURRAY
MR FIGG
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