*69 270
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG 292820Z MAY
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0.
Некоиз
TOLIVED HAREGISTRY 7:0
3 0 MAY 1979
OFFICER
PA
по
•
8317
787
(751)
TELEGRAM NUMBER 668 OF 20 MAY, 1979
INFO IMMEDIATE M.V.D. AND HOME OFFICE.
REFERENCE FCO TELNO 325: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES SIBONGA.
PLEASE PASS TO BIRT HOME OFFICE, IMMEDIATELY.
FOLLOWING FROM DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION,
1. M.V. SIBONGA ENTERED HONG KONG WATERS AT 1500 HOURS (0600 GMT).
IMMIGRATION PROCESSING STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THE REFUGEES WILL ALSO RECEIVE AN INITIAL
HEALTH EXAMINATION.
2. AT PRESENT THERE ARE 38,000 REFUGEES IN HONG KONG OF WHOM 4,000
HAVE ARRIVED ON SMALL BOATS WITHIN THE LAST 48 HOURS WHO ARE STILL BEING KEPT ON BOARD BECAUSE OF ACUTE ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS. IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND TEMPORARY SHELTER ASHORE FOR THE SIBONGA REFUGEES AND MIGHT MEAN DELAYING THE LANDING OF THE SMALL BOAT REFUGEES, SOME OF WHOSE BOATS ARE IN AN EXTREMELY CROWDED CONDITION AND IN ACUTE DANGER OF SINKING, ON THE OTHER HAND, PRESSURE WILL BE BROUGHT UPON US BY THE LOCAL AGENT OF SIBONGA TO OFF LOAD THE REFUGEES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN VIEW OF LONDON'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO ACCEPT THEM. IT IS IMPERATIVE THEREFORE THAT WE RECEIVE YOUR IMMEDIATE CONFIRMATION OF THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING THE RESETTLEMENT OF THE 982 REFUGEES (313 MALE, 274 FEMALE AND 395 CHILDREN).
MACLEHOSE
FILES
COPIES TO
HK & GD
PS
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY MR MURRAY
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