CONFIDENTIAL
270A
DESI 210800Z (FCO)
FM HANOI 210250Z JUNE 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 180 OF 21 JUNE
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG HONG AND UKKIS GENEVA
HKK 2 H 3
1172
RECEIVED #896'N NO.'5]
22 JUN 1976
DESK OFPCIA
INDEX
по
1160/MY TELNO 177: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES,
SUSPECT SHIP
1. I SAW MR MAI VAN BO (HEAD OF EUROPE 11
DEPARTMENT) ON AFTERNOON OF 20 JUNE. HE CONFIRMED THAT
HE HAD RECEIVED MY AIDE MEMOIRE ABOUT THE PANAMANIAN SHIP THE PREVIOUS DAY. HE SAID THAT THE MATTER WAS BEING INVEST-- IGATED AND PROMISED TO LET HE KNO. THE OUTCOME.
HE ADDED THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD ISSUED INSTRUCT- ¡ONS TO ARREST ALL SHIPS COMING INTO VIETNAMESE PORTS WHICH MIGHT CARRY REFUGEES: IN ADDITION HE COULD ASSURE
ME THAT NO SHIPS WERE BEING CRDERED BY THE VIETNAMESE GOVERN- MENT TO CARRY REFUGEES. IN REPLY TO A QUESTION OF MINE HE SAID THE ORDER COVERED BOTH LARGE SHIPS AND SMALL BOATS.
2. BO'S AMBIGUOUS STATEMENT ABOUT ARRESTING
see (1200)
SHIPS SHOULD NOT, OF COURSE, AT THIS STAGE BE TAKEN AT FACE VALUE. BUT IT IS IN LINE WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF 18 JUNE THAT A SHIP FLYING THE GREEK FLAG HAD BEEN DETAINED WHEN ABOUT TO LEAVE HO CHI MINH CITY ON 14 JUNE. THE SHIP WHICH WAS ALLEGEDLY CARRYING REFUGEES, IS BEING HELD PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
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PS/LPS FS/MR.HURD PS/MR.BLAKER PS/PUS SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR. CORTAZZI
MR.LEAHY MR. MURRAT
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE LONDON
MR.WOODFIELD
MR.BURLEIGH
MR.HILLARY) MR. BIRT
MR.V.MCGEE
HOME OFFICE
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HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON.
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