RESTRICTED
10
GR 645
TRICTED
HONG KONG #30907Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.18 OF 3 JANUARY,
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
1.
M.I.P.T HUEY FONG''.
4.3/1/10.51
HKK · 243 RECEIVED MA..
DESK
INDEX
No
N 1979
15
RY
mon Taken
CLE
THE PANAMANIAN-REGISTERED FREIGHTER ''HUEY FONG'' (H.F), 4,220 TONS GROSS AND OWNED IN TAIWAN, IS ANCHORED SOUTH OF PO TOI ISLAND, JUST OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS, WITH ABOUT 2,700 PERSONS
ON BOARD. THE MATER CLAIMS THEY WERE RESCUED AT SEA ON 16 DECEMBER A DAY LATER, WHILE STILL CLOSER TO MANY OTHER PORTS, THE MASTER
THE HONG KONG GOVERNME REQUESTED PERMISSION TO COME TO HONG KONG.
(H.K.G) SAID THAT HE SHOULD PROCEED TO HIS FIRST SCHEDULED PORT
HE HAS NOT YET DONE SO AND THE OF CALL, KAOHSIUNG IN TAIWAN,
·SHIP HAS REMAINED IN ITS PRESENT POSITION SINCE 23 DECEMBER.
2. THE H.K.G BELIEVES THAT THE TRAGIC PROBLEM OF BOAT REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN A HUMANE AND ORDERLY FASHION. IT HAS CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED THE PRINCIPLE THAT, SHIP-.
WRECKED SURVIVORS RESCUED BY OCEAN-GOING VESSELS SHOULD BE LANDED AT THE FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL. (BUT SEE ALSO PARA.7 BELOW). THIS PRINCIPLE HAS ALSO BEEN APPLIED TO REFUGEES ARRIVING ON
IN THEIR OWN SMALL BOATS OR RESCUED BY LOCAL FISHING-VESSELS. LINE WITH THIS POSITION 5172 BOAT REFUGEES WERE LANDED TEMPORARILY
IN HONG KONG IN 1978. OF THESE ONLY 2138 HAVE SO FAR BEEN RESETTLED ELSEWHERE.
3. IN GENUINE EMERGENCIES, THE H.K.G GIVES ASSISTANCE TO VESSELS
IN THE CASE OF THE FOR WHICH H.K IS NOT THE FIRST-PORT OF CALL. H.F, URGENT MEDICAL CASES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND ADEQUATE FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES PROVIDED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE SHIP
AN ESCORT NAVAL VESSEL NOT TO PROCEED TO ITS FIRST PORT OF CALL. WITH 2,700 LIFEJACKETS HAS BEEN OFFERED.
b.
UNDER THE PREVIOUSLY STATED POLICY OF THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN ALL 2,400 REFUGEES OF CHINESE ETHNIC ORIGIN ABOARD THE H.F
WOULD BE ELEGIBLE FOR TEMPORARY LANDING IN TAIWAN.
THE H.K.G HOPES
THAT THE 300 REFUGEES OF ETHNIC VIETNAMESE ORIGIN:CAN ALSO BE /IANDED
RESTRICTED