GP 480 189
UNCLASSIFIED
HKK 2431
RECEIVED W
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DESK OFFICIA
*IDEX
PA
FM HONG KONG 261325Z MAY
по
21.
J2.5 I
749
DESKBY 261400Z
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0.
TELEGRAM NUMBER 654 OF 26 MAY, 1979
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, BIS NEW YORK, HANOI AND PEKING, HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE LONDON.
REFUGEE FREIGHTER BEACHED IN HONG KONG.
1. AT ABOUT 1440 HOURS LOCAL A POLICE LAUNCH SIGHTED A FREIGHTER
WITH REFUGEES AND ORDERED IT TO STOP. THIS ORDER WAS IGNORED AND THE SHIP BEACHED ON THE SOUTH OF LANTAU ISLAND. 253 (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE) REFUGEES WHO JUMPED ASHORE WERE ROUNDED UP BY POLICE. THE 1407 REFUGEES ABOARD AND ASHORE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE
GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD. NO CASUALTIES.
J
2. THE NAME 'SENON' ON THE VESSE HAD RECENTLY BEEN PAINTED ON TOP OF '12 KING MARU'. IT IS ABOUT 800 TONS, 200 FEET AND REGISTERED IN PANAMA, THE REFUGEES SAY THEY SAILED FROM NORTH VIETNAM AND THAT THE MASTER AND 16 CREW WERE OFFLOADED ON TO A PASSING JUNK SHORTLY BEFORE ENTRY INTO HONG KONG WATERS.
3. RESIDENT CLERK PLEASE INFORM MCLAREN (HKGD)
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
PS
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/LPS PS/MR JURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS SIR A DUTF
SIR A FARSONS
MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
OVERNM
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
MR V MCGEE FAO ODM
LONDON