GR 700
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AFCO 031915Z JAN 79
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See 82
HKK 243/1
SSAY
TO INMEDIATE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TE NO. 51
TELNO GUIDANCE 1 OF 3 JANUARY
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OFF HONG KONG
3
TERA
5 JAN1979
DÈSK OP INDEX
No
RE
RY
Action ten
31
1. CONSIDERABLE INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION HAS DEEN FOCUSSED ON THE PLIGHT OF THE 2700 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM ON BOARD THE PANAMANIAN
REGISTERED FREIGHTER HUEY FONG WHICH HAS BEEN ANCHORED OFF
PONG KONG SINCE 23 DECEMBER, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE REFUSED
TO ALLOW THEM TO LAND, INTEREST HAS TENDED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE
SUFFERING OF THE REFUGEES, AVD THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FEAR THAT
THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THEIR POLICY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY
UNDERSTOOD. WE HOPE THEREFORE THAT POSTS WILL, WHERE APPROPRIATE,
BE ABLE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE GENERALLY LIBERAL AND HUMANE
POLICY THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN ADOPTING TOWARDS
REFUGEES FROM TIDO-CHINA, AND TO THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS THAT THE
HUEY FONG CASE PRESENTS FOR THEM. GENERAL BACKGROUND TO THE UK
POLICY ON REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA, INCLUDING DETAILS OF HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS, WAS GIVEN IN SAVING GUIDANCE 175 OF 22 DECEMBER.
LINE TO TAKE
(402) HKK
243/1 (1978)
2. WE AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BELIEVE THAT THE TRAGIC
PROBLEM OF BOAT REFUGEES FROM INDO CHINA SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN A
HUMANE AND ORDERLY FASHION. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE
CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED THE PRINCIPAL THAT SHIPWRECKED SURVIVORS
RESCUED BY OCEAN-GOING VESSELS SHOULD BE LANDED AT THE FIRST
SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL. THIS PRINCIPAL HAS ALSO BEEN APPLIED TO
REFUGEES ARRIVING IN THEIR OWN SMALL DOATS OR RESCUED BY LOCAL
FISHING VESSELO. IN LINE WITH THIS POLICY, 5172 SMALL BOAT
REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO LAND IN HONG KONG IN 1978. OF THESE,
ONLY 2108 HAVE SO FAR BEEN RESETTLED ELSEWHERE.
3. THE MASTER OF THE HEUY FONG CLAIMS THAT HE RESCUED THE 2700
REFUGEES AT SEA ON 16 DECEMBER, ON 17 DECEMBER, WHILE STILL MUCH
CLOSER TO MANY OTHER PORTS, HE REQUESTED PERMISSION TO BRING THE
REFUGEES TO HONG KONG. SINCE THE SHIP'S NEXT SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL
WAS KAOHSIUNG IN TAIWAN, HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED
TO ENTER HONG KONG AND HE WAS ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO HIS ORIGINAL
DESTINATION. HE IGNORED THIS MESSAGE AND ARRIVED OFF HONG KONG SIX
DAYS LATER.
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