GRS 67%
ONFIDENTIAL
FM BONG KONG 2999367 DEC 70
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
CONFIDENTIALI
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TELEGRAM NUMBER 1497 90F 20 DECEMBER
INDER
PEGISTRY Action Takən
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, INFO PRIORITY PEKING, CANBERRA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENTlostice
LONDON, MANILA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, BANGKOK,
INFO SAVING HANOI.
MY TELMO 1495: HUEY FONG,
FONG.
Sed 409,
4410
375
375
OUR EFFORTS SO FAR TO MAKE THE HUEY FONG CONTINUE ON ITS CRIGINAL VOYAGE TO TAIWAN HAVE NOT PROVED SUCCESSFUL. THIS IS
PARTLY DUE TO THE MASTER'S OBVIOUS RELUCTANCE TO MOVE, IT IS ALSO
ANY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN TO GIVE POSITIVE INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO STICK TO THEIR DECLARED FOLICY FOR DEALING WITH BOAT REFUGEES (SEE PARA OF MY TELNO 1482).
2. WE HAVE USED THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE AMERICANS TO TRY TO GET THE TAIWANESE TO STICK TO THEIR POLICY, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, ON 25 DECEMBER, AT OUR REQUEST, THEY PASSED ON OUR UNDERTAKING TO LOOK AFTER THE 300 ETHNIC VIETNAMESE IF THIS PROVED
A STUMBLING BLOCK (SEE MY TELNO 1482 PARA 9). THE TAIWANESE HAVE MADE NO SPECIFIC RESPONSE. HOWEVER, PRESS REPORTS AND THE MESSAGE FROM THE SHIP'S AGENTS IN TAIWAN (MY TELNO 1495 PARA 5) MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE TAIWAN REACTION IS LIKELY TO BE NEGATIVE.
3. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FURTHER EFFORT TO GET A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM THE TAIVAN AUTHORITIES, OR AT LEAST PIN THEM DOWN TO A COMPLETE NEGATIVE, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD AUTHORISE WASHINGTON TO MAKE DIRECT REPRESENTATIONS TO THE AMERICANS,
EMPHAS13ING HMC'S CONCERN THAT THE FIRST PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE APPLIED AND ASKING THAT THE AMERICANS SHOULD MAKE THIS POINT FORCEFULLY IN TAIWAN, WE REALISE THAT THE AMERICANS DO NOT
HAVE MUCH LEVERAGE IN TAIWAN AT PRESENT AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WILL ALSO CONSIDER OTHER WAYS OF GETTING THIS MESSAGE ACROSS.
4. MEANWHILE WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO GET THE SHIP TO MOVE. WE REALISE, HOWEVER, (ALTHOUGH WE WILL NOT SAY SO PUBLICLY) THAT
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