GR 345
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 0610332 NOV 78
See 278
279
280
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.1276 OF 6 NOVEMBER 78,
AND TO PRIORITY CANBERRA, JAKARTA
INFO PRIORITY HANOI, KUALA LUMPUR,
PA
HKK 243
268
RECEIVED IN REG: 0.51
- 8 NOV 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
طر
PA
(RE
3 RY
Action T en
CLE
ROUTINE SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON,
239
MY TELNO.1229 (NOT TO ALL): VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD PANAMANIAN VESSEL M.V HAIPHONG.
1. PRESS REPORTS (E.G REUTERS FROM KUALA LUMPUR ON 4 NOVEMBER) AND INFORMATION PASSED TO THE U.S EMBASSY IN KUALA LUMPUR BY THE AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER SUGGEST THAT THE SHIP REFERRED TO IN REFTEL IS NOW IN INDONESIAN WATERS, OFF THE
ISLAND OF SIANTAN IN THE NANTUNA ARCHIPELAGO.
2. ACCORDING TO THE AUSTRALIAN SOURCE:
(A) THE SHIP IS THE M.V HAIPHONG, ORIGINALLY MALAYSIAN OWNED
BUT TRANSFERRED TO A HONG KONG GROUP IN EARLY OCTOBER AND REGISTERED UNDER PANAMANIAN FLAG (REGISTRATION IS SAID TO BE
DUE TO EXPIRE ABOUT 10 NOVEMBER);
(B) ABOUT 3,000 REFUGEES ARE ABOARD:
(C) IF THE SHIP ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA THE REFUGEES WILL BE REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM (BECAUSE THE REFUGEES BOARDED THE SHIP WITH HELP FROM VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS).
3. WE ARE CHECKING DETAILS OF CLAIMED HONG KONG OWNERSHIP.
MEANWHILE GRATEFUL IF CANBERRA WOULD SEEK CONFIRMATION OF THE
AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE (PARA.2(C) ABOVE).
4. FOR JAKARTA: GRATEFUL TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF INDONEST AN HANDLING OF THIS CASE.
MACLEHOSE
REPETITION TO HANG REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION, REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POSTS
FILES
UND
SEAD
HKJGD MR CORTAZZI MRSTRATTON MR WEIR
COPIES
ΤΟ
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON