GRS 420
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 07 10 39Z
FM HONG KONG 0709557 FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
321
HKK
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 225 OF 7 FEBRUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, MANILA.
No
J9/2
32
See
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, PEKING, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA, OTTAWA, PARIS, CANBERRA, BONN, UKMIS NEW YORK, VIENTIANE, MODUK, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
INFO SAVING HANOI.
REFUGEE SHIPS: SKYLUCK.
JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT TODAY A PANAMANIAN-REGISTERED VESSEL, THE SKYLUCK, ARRIVED IN THE INNER HARBOUR WESTER QUARANTINE ANCHORAGE.
THE MASTER HAD NOT ASKED PERMISSION TO ENTER PORT AS HE IS REQUIRED TO DO UNDER OUR NEW LEGISLATION WHICH HAS BEEN RELAYED
REGULARLY TO ALL SHIPPING IN THE AREA. THE SKYLUCK IS 3506 GROSS
TONS (1.E. SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE HUEY FONG) AND IS OWNED
BY THE SKYLUCK S.S. COMPANY WITH A REGISTERED ADDRESS IN HONG KONG,
2. THE MASTER SAYS THAT HIS SHIP LEFT SINGAPORE ON 12 JANUARY
WITH A CARGO OF PAPER AND WOODEN BOXES, HE CLAIMS TO HAVE HAD
CONTINUAL TROUBLE AND TO HAVE PICKED UP REFUGEES FROM SINKING
JUNKS OFF THE VIETNAMESE COAST ON 18 AND 21 JANUARY. HE SAYS
THAT HONG KONG WAS HIS FIRST PORT OF CALL. WE ARE CHECKING THIS
CLAIM WITH SINGAPORE. WE ARE ALSO OF COURSE CHECKING THE TRUTH OF
THE MASTER'S STORY, IT SOUNDS IMPLAUSIBLE.
3. THE SKYLUCK WAS BOARDED BY POLICE DURING THE NIGHT. AFTER
CONSIDERABLE ARGUMENT AND DIFFICULTY THE SHIP MOVED FROM THE
INNER HARBOUR AREA TO A MORE REMOTE ANCHORAGE WEST OF LAMM A
ISLAND.
4. ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PASSENGERS THERE ARE SOME 3,000 REFUGEES (2500 ETHNIC CHINCES AND 500 ETHNIC VIETNAMESE) ON BOARD. WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO CHECK THESE NUMBERS.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 5. WE
ARE