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BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY.
Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1908
ACTION TAKEN BY THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY IN FAVOUR OF REFUGEES IN THE HUEY FONG.
372
HKK 243/1
No
J19.2.
juto
A.
The Role of International Red Cross
Since
The Hong Kong Red Cross first learnt about the coming to Hong Kong of the freighter "Huey Fong" on December 23 1978 when they received a telegram which was addressed to the "International Refugees Organisation and International Red Cross" and sent by the Master of the lusy Fong. there is in Hong Kong an Honorary Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (I CM C) - Mr G.J. Mumenthaler, this telegram, begging for permission for the refugees on board the freighter to enter Hong Kong, was referred to him for attention.
On December 27, Mr. Mumenthaler transmitted to Geneva by telex the contents of the telegram and received on the next day a reply from the TCRC, instruct- ing him that since the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had taken up the co-ordinator's role for handling the Indo-China refugees' affairs, he, as a representative of ICRC in Hong Kong, must not initiate any action or intervention in this case but keep ICRC informed of any further development.
B.
The Role of Hong Kong Red Cross
C.
In the mean time, the Hong Kong Red Cross was unable to give any direct assistance
Upon enquiries to these refugees since they were still in international waters. through numerous phone calls from the Press and other people, the Secretary was only able to state that "should these refugees be permitted to enter Hong Kong, the Red Cross could provide immediate assistance in the form of warm clothing and health kits". Both the Disaster Relief Section and the Youth and Welfare Department were alerted of the possibility of such relief operations, and the Branch Director was kept informed of the development.
Clothing supplied to Huey Fong through Social Welfare Department.
On December 30, 1978, the Principal Social Welfare Officer (Social Security) of Social Welfare Department contacted the Secretary to enquirc on the organisation's readiness to supply relief clothing, and was frankly told that, since it was still waiting for a grant from the Government to replenish 1,825 bundles of clothing, there were only 2,000 bundles left in its emergency stock. She was assured, however, that if Government was willing to bear the replenish- ment cost, the Branch could supply 2,700 bundles given two or three days' notice.
On January 2 1979 the Hong Kong Red Cross was requested to supply 1,000 bundles of
The clothing was children's winter clothing (ages 4 to 14) the next morning. accordingly delivered to the TAMAR for redirection to the Huey Fong. The Social Welfare Department agreed to reimburse £30,000 ($30 per bundle) to the Hong Kong Red Cross.
Since then the Hong Kong Red Cross has received quantities of warm second- hand clothing from the general public. Members sorted and packed these clothes, which were then transported by the Government to the Vietnamese on board the Huey Fong.
The local Red Cross was unable to intervene whilst the Buey Fong remained in International Waters. Hatters relating to the permission for the vessel to be granted entry and landing rights in Hong Kong were dealt with by the Government of Hong Kong. Additional Red Cross assistance will be given now thet refugees are being allowed to land.
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