IMMEDIATE
CHER/CAT A
"GPS255
FM HONG KONG 260435Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
See (247
TO FLASH BANGKOK TELNO.115 OF 26 OCTOBER 78,
INFO IMMEDIATE: F.C.O, UKMIS GENEVA,
ROUTINE: HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
PA
(243
нки 243/1
HKK
RECEIVED IN REGIS Yin, 51 LONDON.
6 OCT 1978
DESK O CEN.
INDEX
No
مكة
PA
RY
Takan
ar
1. WE HAVE HEARD THROUGH THE AMERICANS AND LOCAL UNHCR OFFICER THAT A LIBERIAN-REGISTERED SHIP, PACIFIC CONVEYOR, WHICH PICKED UP 154 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, REACHED BANGKOK ON 23 OCTOBER AND HAS SINCE BEEN STUCK THERE BECAUSSE THE THAIS REFUSED TO ALLOW
THE REFUGEES TO DISEMBARK. THE OWNERS OF THE SHIP ARE A LIBERIAN REGISTERED COMPANY, ORIENT OVERSEAS CONTAINER SERVICES INC., WHICH APPEARS TO BE CONTROLLED BY A HONG KONG COMPANY, GOLDEN
PEAK MARITIME AGENCIES.
2. ACCORDING TO THE AMERICANS, THE SHIP INTENDS TO SAIL FROM
BANGKOK THIS EVENING AND TO MAKE FOR HONG KONG. THE LOCAL AGENTS, HONG KONG EXPORT LINE, CLAIMS THAT SOME REFUGEES HAVE BEEN OFF-LOADED AND THAT THE SHIP WILL SAIL SOON WITH THE REMAINDER
ABOUT 100,
3. SHOULD THE SHIP SAIL FOR HERE WITH THE REFUGEES ON BOARD IT.
WOULD NOT FALL WITHIN OUR POLICY FOR DISEMBARKING REFUGEES SINCE HONG KONG WAS QUITE CLEARLY NOT THE FIRST PORT OF CALL. FURTHER- MORE, ACCORDING TO OUR INFORMATION, THE SHIP IS ONLY 472 TONS WITH A CREW OF 15 SO IT MUST ALREADY BE SEVERELY OVERCROWDED. FOR BOTH REASONS, IF PARA.2 13 CORRECT, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD MAKE URGENT EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE SHIP DOES NOT SAIL FOR
HONG KONG WITH THE REFUGEES ON BOARD. WE ARE EXPLAINING TO THE
LOCAL AMERICANS AND UNHCR THAT WE ARE MAKING THIS REQUEST AND
TRUST THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BACK UP ANY REPRESENTATIONS.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
SEAD
1
COPIES TO
HKIGD.
UND. MRCORTAZZ немиплац.
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE