CONFIDENTIAL
149
G.. 675
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 171230Z JAN 79
HKK 243/1
REL
NO. 51
No
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.123 OF 17 JANUARY,
OFFICER
PA
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
''HUEY FONG'': PRESS STATEMENT.
1. IF THE MATER DECIDES TO CONTINUE TO TAIWAN TOMORROW WE WILL
ISSUE THE FIRST PART OF THE FOLLOWING RELEASE UP TO ""....HIS VO YAGE
TO KAOHSIUNG''.
2. IF HE DOES NOT MAKE AN EARLY DECISION AND THE STORY LEAKS WE
WILL ISSUE TO THE END OF PARA.3.
3. IF HE DECIDES TO ENTER HONG KONG WATERS THE COMPLETE STATEMENT
WILL BE ISSUED.
BEGINS:-
1. THE MASTER OF THE HUEY FONG WAS CALLED ON BOARD HMS WASPERTON
AT X@% HRS TODAY FOR A MEETING WITH MR GEOFFREY BARNES OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE PATROL CRAFT CAPTAIN.
2. HE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD AGAIN BEEN REPROVISIONED FOR FIVE DAYS AND NOW HAS ON BOARD SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND WATER TO ENABLE HIM TO SAIL TO TAIWAN, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS NOT
PREPARED TO LET THE SITUATION REMAIN UNRESOLVED BECAUSE CONDITIONS ON BOARD WOULD BE AN INCREASING CAUSE FOR CONCERN IF THE WEATHER DETERIORIATED FURTHER. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO REPROVISION THE HUEY FONG INDEFINITELY AND HE SHOULD NOW CONTINUE HIS VOYAGE TO KAOHSIUNG. IF, HOWEVER, HE DECIDED INSTEAD TO ENTER HONG KONG WATERS, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT PREVENT HIM FROM DOING SO BUT HE, AS MASTER OF THE HUEY FONG, WOULD BE SUBJECT TO HONG KONG LAW.
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THE HUEY FONG 18
E