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VIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
CONFIDENTIAL
NG KONG 898908Z FEB 79
TELEGRAM NUMBER 240 OF 9 FEBRUARY
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
HKK 243/1
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
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1. THE ARRIVAL OF THE MV SKY LUCK (MY TELNO 225) HAS ́ EMPHASISED THE EASE WITH WHICH A SHIP CAN ENTER HONG KONG,
2. WE CLEARLY CANNOT EXPECT REFUGEE SHIPS IN FUTURE TO GIVE PRIOR NOTICE OF THEIR ARRIVAL (AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE MY HUEY FONG). THE ABSENCE OF INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THE PASSAGE OF SUCH SHIPS
FROM VIETNAM MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR A CLOSE WATCH
2N THE SEA APPROACHES TO HONG KONG.
.3. WE THEREFORE WISH TO STRENGTHEN SEA AND AIR SURVEILLANCE IN
INTERNATIONAL WATERS TO THE SOUTH OF HONG KONG. THIS INVOLVES
PATROLS BY THE RN REQUIRING THE DIRECT IDENTIFICATION OF ANY
VESSELS ENCOUNTERED. AIR RECONNAISSANCE BY THE RHKAAF HAS ALREADY
PROVED ITS USEFULNESS. THE RHKAAF ISLANDER CAN CARRY OUT LONG
DISTANCE AIR SEARCHES OF SEA AREAS UP TO 250 MILES FROM HONG KONG.
IT HAS BEEN USED IN THIS ROLE EXTENSIVELY SINCE MID-DECEMBER:
BUT ABOUT 5TH MARCH IT IS DUE FOR A COMPULSORY MAINTENANCE
OVERHAUL LASTING AT LEAST A FORTNIGHT. THE SERVICES HAVE NO
AIRCRAFT CAPABLE OF TAKING ITS PLACE DURING THIS PERIOD.
4. ALTHOUGH THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF A VESSEL CARRYING
REFUGEES TOWARD HONG KONG WOULD NOT ITSELF ENABLE US TO PREVENT
ITS APRIVAL, THE FOREKNOWLEDGE WOULD ALLOW PREPARATIONS TO BE NACE FOR ITS RECEPTION BEARING IN MIND THE INCREASING CONGESTION OF OUR FACILITIES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF A HONG KONG BASED SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS SO OPERATING WOULD ACT AS A DETERRENT TO VESSELS
EVGASED IN THE REFUGEE TRADE.
5. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER WITH 5.4 NOD AS A MATTER OF URGENCY THE PROVISION OF AIR SEARCH ASSIST-
E. FOR HONG KONG INITIALLY TO COVER THE PERIOD NEXT MONTH
DURING WHICH THE ISLANDER IS LAID OFF. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED
CONFIDENTIAL
/ PIAT