SEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
GPS 250
FM BANGKOK 265944Z
HKK REAL RECEIVER IN REGISTRY RO. 51 27 OCT 1978
PA
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CONFIDENTIAL
DESK OFFICER INDEX
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REGUTIPY
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TO FLASH GOVERNOR HONGKONG TELNO 176 OF 26 OCT
RFI IMMEDIATE FCO, IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA AND ROUTINE HONGKONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
243
YOUR TELNO 115 : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES,
1. WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. OWNERS HAVE INSTRUCTED CAPTAIN NOT TO SAIL TONIGHT FOR REASONS OF SAFETY. VESSEL WILL PROBABLY REMAIN BANGKOK AT LEAST TWO DAYS. 2. THAIS WILL NOT ALLOW REFUGEES TO DISEMBARK UNLESS THEY HAVE FIRM GUARANTEE OF ACCEPTANCE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS BY THIRD COUNTRY. 22 REFUGEES IN U.S. CATEGORIES 1 111 HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY UNITED STATES,12 PERSONS BY AUSTRALIA AND 4 BY FRANCE, THESE 38 ARE BEING DI SEMBARKED LEAVING 116 ON BOARD.
W
3. WE PUT TO UNHCR PRINCIPLE OF FIRST PORT OF CALL BUT THEY REITERATED THAT THAIS WILL NOT ALLOW DISEMBARKATION WITHOUT FİRM GUARANTEES. WE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT VESSEL IS UNDER LIBERIAN
FLAG.
UNHCR VIEW IS THAT IF COUNTRY OF FIRST PORT OF CALL WILL NOT ACCEPT AND IF VESSEL IS UNDER FLAG OF CONVENIENCE THE PROBLEM FALLS TO THE OWNERS' COUNTRY. THEY ARE STILL NEGOTIATING WITH AMERICANS AND AUSTRALIANS BUT ARE VERY DOUBTFUL THAT MANY MORE PERSONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. VESSEL PLIES ONLY BETWEEN HONGKONG AND BANGKOK, UNHCR POINT OUT THAT OWNERS WILL NOT WANT TO INCUR EXPENSE OF SHIP REMAINING HERE FOR LONG OR RESULTANT LOSS OF
BUSINESS. SITUATION IS AT IMPASSE.
TRIPP
FILES
SEAD.
HKYGD
UND.
MR CORTAZZI
MR WEIR2.
COPIES
TO
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
CONFIDENTIAL