GRS 457
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI 291109Z MAY 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELKO 101 OF 29 MAY
CONFIDENTIAL
Hkk 2431
RECEIVED BI REGIATAY NO. 5】
31
DESK OPAK
INDEX
ра
No
J21.
16
750
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (GOVERNOR)
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON AND PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
OUR TALNO 149: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. I WAS SUMMONED TO THE MFA TODAY TO SEE THE HEAD OF EUROPE 11 DEPARTMENT, NOI VAN BO. HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE TO SHIPS STANDING BY OFF THE MOUTH OF THE MEKONG. HE COMMENTED THAT THEY BOTH FLEW THE PANAMANIAN FLAG AND WERE LYING OFF VUNG TAU. THE TWO SHIPS HAD VIOLATED VIETNAMESE TERRITORIAL WATERS AND HAD BEEN ARRESTED ON 16 MAY, ALONG WITH PART OF THEIR CREWS. THE VIETNAMESE - AUTHORITIES SUSPECTED THAT THE SHIPS HAD INTENDED TO LOAD
REFUGEES AND AN INVESTIGATION WAS THEREFORE UNDERWAY.
THE CREWS WOULD BE PUNISHED IF IT TURNED OUT THAT THEIR
INTENTION HAD BEEN TO PICK UP REFUGEES.
2. I ASKED MOT VAN BO TO CONFIRM THAT THE
SKIP WOULD NOT NOW SAIL LOADED WITH REFUGEES. VIS REPLIED
THAT IF THE SHIPS WERE RELEASED AND IF THEY THEN PICKED UP
REFUGEES FROM SHALL BOATS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS THERE WAS
NOTHING THAT THE VIETNAMESE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
CONFIDENTIAL
783
ра
13.
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