6.
CONFIDENTIAL #
(b)
(c)
(a)
might question whether or not the Huey Fong was a normal commercial freighter plying its normal business, and whether or not Kaohsiung was scheduled as the first port of call.
The MOD ruled out the use of service personnel for courses
(i) and (ii) and (iii) of the policy considered on 24th December but said that RN patrol vessels might escort the Huey Fong at the request of the Master for purposes of providing humanitarian aid only.
The Master and two refugee representatives were taken on board HMS Wasperton. They were told by the C.O., who was accompanied by the APA, that all the necessary medical attention and supplics of food and water which were originally required had been provided. The Government's decision that the ship would not be allowed to enter Hong Kong nor to disembark refugees was repeated. The Master was told that he should immediately leave and proceed to his original destination. He was also given the Hong Kong Government's understanding of Taiwan's policy to refugees as confirmed by the US Embassy in Taipei. The refugees asked for guarantees that they would be re-settled more quickly from Taiwan than if they landed in Hong Kɔng. They were told that no such undertaking could be given. However, they were provided with a written assurance from the local representative of UNHCR undertaking to provide assistance through third parties if they were landed in Taiwan. of this undertaking is at Appendix 2. The Master said that he must get a guarantee that he would be accepted in Taiwan before he could sail. He was told that such a request was a matter for him and could not be communicated by the Hong Kong Government.
A COPY
The Political Advisor asked the United States Consul General to arrange for the Taiwanese authorities to be warned that they might receive an approach from the "Hucy Fong". The Americans were also asked to guarantee to the Taiwanese that Hong Kong would accept the ethnic Vietnamese from the ship if Taiwan would not (it had been reported by the Police who had been on board on 23rd and 24th December that about 300 of the 2700 refugees were ethnic Vietnamese).
26th December, 1978
(a)
(b)
A report was received from the U.S. Embassy Taipei via the U.S.C.G. describing a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting a Taiwanese official said that the refugees might be better off in Hong Kong where there were many international agencies involved in refugee work.
There was no firm indication at the meeting as to what would happen if the "Huey Fong" arrived off Kaohsiung. A full report
of this meeting is at Appendix 3 to Annex C.
The Master and refugee representatives were invited to go aboard EMS Beachampton for a further meeting. The Master did not go as he said to be unwell. The refugees were told
was.
CONFIDENTIAL
機密