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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 131048Z FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 262 OF 13 FEBRUARY
HKK 243/1
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13 FEB 1979
FOR D F MURRAY AUSS
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YOUR TELNO 138 (NOT TO HONGAID): ́VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
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1. WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE CONTENTS OF MY TELNO 235 BEING PASSED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE TO THE AMERICANS AND THE NINE FOR USE AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION ONLY. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED TO THE PRESS OR USED IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF PREJUDICING THE PROSECUTION CASE HERE,
2. TWO CONSPIRACY CHARGES WERE LAID YESTERDAY AGAINST EIGHT PEOPLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE HUEY FONG, THESE WERE THE MASTER (WHO HAD EARLIER BEEN CHARGED WITH CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS) 3 CREW MEMBERS, ONE PASSENGER, 2 HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND A FURTHER PASSENGER FROM THE HUEY FONG WHO HAD EARLIER BEEN CHARGED WITH MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS, THEY APPEARED IN COURT TODAY AND HAVE BEEN REMANDED FOR 8 DAYS. BAIL WAS REFUSED.
3. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN TO GIVE AS FULL PUBLICITY AS POSSIBLE TO THE INHUMANITY OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS AND TO THE HYPOCRISY OF STATEMENTS WHICH THEY HAVE MADE PUBLICLY AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. INEVITABLY SOME DETAILS OF THE EVIDENCE WILL LEAK HERE. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY DAMAGING. HOWEVER, THE POLICE BELIEVE THAT THEIR CASE COULD BE MATERIALLY DAMAGED IF ANY STATEMENTS APPEARING IN THE PRESS WHICH ARE ATTRIBUTED (SOMETIMES WRONGLY) TO OFFICIAL SOURCES IN HONG KONG WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED BY AN F C O SPOKESMAN.
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