18.1.70
C.41
1500 CG KONG REGL
After spending four weeks in a ship anchored off Hong Kong,
it looks as though two-thousand-seven-hundred refugees from Vietnam
may now be able to land. But it is not clear what will happen after
that.
The captain of the freighter Huey Fong has been told that
the Hong Kong authorities will no longer prevent him
from
entering harbour and landing his passengers. But correspondents
point out that he could face devere penalties, under emergency
legislation just passed for carrying excess pasrongers. And
another new law permits the indefinite detention of illegal
immigrants awaiting resettlemens. A corre: polident for the 30 in
Hong Long says the government now fools that it has sufficient
legislation to deter other ships' captains from following the uey
Fong's onile. And it has been encouraged by the decision of the
British and uti un governments to take more rofugees. Nevertheless,
the Hong Kong authorities continue to advise t..e captain of tho Huey
Tong to proceed to Taiwan, its original destination, and say they
ccnnot continue to airlift provisions to the ship indefinitely.
RW 1100 vi en new
with more P 0602 & 1040
SDR ED (17)
1.45/30