CONFIDENTIAL
3. OUR PRESENT INTENTIONS ARE TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO PER DE
THE HUEY FONG TO GO ON TO ITS ORIGINAL DESTINATION, KAOHSIUNG. ARE PUTTING DOCTORS ON THE SHIP THIS EVENING TO DEAL WITH, AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE SERIOUSLY ILL. WE WILL PROVIDE WATER AND FOOD AT FIRST LIGHT TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
4. WE MAY WELL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A DIFFICULT DAY OR TWO IN
WHICH THE SHIP REFUSES TO MOVE. ALTERNATIVELY, THE MASTER MAY SIMPLY SAIL ON INTO HONG KONG IN WHICH CASE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP HIM. IF THIS HAPPENS OR IF, FOR SOME OTHER REASON, WE
ARE FORCED TO ACCEPT THE REFUGEES, WE ARE GOING TO NEED URGENT HELP.
5. THE PRESS HAVE NOW BEEN BRIEFED ON THE LINES OF MY TELNO.1474.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PRESS BRIEFING AS THE SITUATION
DEVELOPS. WE ARE PUTTING PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF MAINTAINING THE FIRST PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE AS THE ONLY RATIONAL AND HUMANE WAY OF DEALING WITH THE BOAT REFUGEE PROBLEM.
F.C.O PLEASE PASS SAVING TO HANOI.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
UND
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
WE
OID
Copies To:
SEAD
*}
HKYQD
PS| LORD GERONIM RODGATS
GOVT OFFICE
LONDON
FED
SIR A DUPP
NEWS,D
MR CORTARZI
SAD
RID
PUSD
MR MURRAY HR LEARY
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