GR 360
RESTRICTED
FM FCO 1219152 FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
TELEGRAM NUMBER 143 OF 12 FEBRUARY
TELECON QUANTRILL/ORRA VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
HKK
243/1
360
13FEI
P
No 1 Jis/2
1. YESTERDAYS OBSERVER HAS LONG ARTICLE BY BRIAN EADS HEADED QUOTE VIET LEADERS PREY ON THE BOAT PEOPLE UNQUOTE. FIRST PARAGRAPH SETS THE TONE QUOTE THERE IS NO LONGER ANY DOUBT THAT THE EXODUS OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM IS A HIGHLY ORGANISED AND FABULOUSLY PROFITABLE RACKET SANCTIONED AND ENCOURAGED BY SENIOR
MEMBERS OF THE HANOI GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE.
2. THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO DESCRIBE THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS AND LEAVES THE READER IN LITTLE DOUBT THAT MUCH OF THE INFORMATION HAS COME FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES. IT IS ALLEGED THAT THE HANOI GOVERNMENT SET UP A SPECIAL DEPARTMENT TO COORDINATE THE TRAFFIC OUT OF VETNAM AND QUOTE OFFICIAL SOURCES HERE SAY THAT ALL FIVE TRAMP FREIGHTERS WHICH HAVE CARRIED REFUGEES INTO ASIAN PORTS
SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER WERE CHARTERED FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE UNQUOTE. IT IS ALSO CLAIMED THAT CABLE AND TELEX CONTACTS TO VIETNAM WERE QUOTE MONITORED BY THE AUTHORITIES UNQUOTE. THE ARTICLE THEN GIVES A SIMILAR ACCOUNT TO THAT IN YOUR TELNO 235 AND FINISHES WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE SKYLUCK STORY.
3. TODAYS DAILY TELEGRAPH HAS A STORY FROM IAN WARD IN SINGAPORE HEADED QUOTE NAVAL PATROLS SEEK TWO VIETNAM REFUGEE SHIPS UNQUOTE, THE SHIPS ARE SAID TO BE THE QUOTE WING FUNG UNQUOTE AND QUOTE LUCKY DRAGON UNQUOTE PACKED WITH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. THERE FOLLOWS REFERENCE TO LONG RANGE RECONAISSANCE AIRCRAFT BEING OBTAINED FROM HERE. NEXT THERE IS A REPORT ON HOW THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BILL THE OWNERS OF THE QUOTE HUEY FONG UNQUOTE AND THE QUOTE SKYLUCK UNQUOTE FOR SUCH ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE AS FOOD, CLOTHING, AND MEDICAL FACILITIES PROVIDED TO THE PASSENGERS AS WELL AS NAVAL PATROLS, HELICOPTER AND LAUNCH SERVICES ETC. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES BY SUGGESTING THAT THE TRIPS WILL NONETHELESS BE VERY PROFITABLE TO THE SYNDICATES THAT ORGANISED THEM.
OWEN
FILES HROGD SEAD UN D
NEWS D
RESTRICTED