PORT
4. IT IS AN OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 72A OF THE SHIPPING A CONTROL ORDINANCE FOR ANY PERSON WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE TO SCUTTLE OR BEACH ANY VESSEL. ACCORDINGLY ENQUIRIES WILL BE MADE INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE M.V 'SKYLUCK WAS BEACHED AND
THE BEHAVIOUR OF THOSE ON BOARD.
5. THE VESSEL SUBSEQUENTLY LISTED TEN DEGRESS TO STARBOARD AND
BEGAN TAKING WATER INTO ITS HOLDS. THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE THEN
GAVE INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE VESSEL SHOULD BE LEFT WHERE IT WAS AND
THOSE ON BOARD SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF. THIS IS PROVING TO BE A
DIFFICULT OPERATION IN THE SEA CONDITIONS AND IS BEING UNDERTAKEN
BY THE ROYAL NAVY AND THE MARINE POLICE. SO FAR 2,00Ø HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE SHIP. ONE REFUGEE HAS BEEN INJURED.
6. ONCE ASHORE THEY ARE BEING ROUNDED UP BY SECURITY FORCES
AND BEING TAKEN TO YUENG CHI WAN. THEY ARE THEN BEING PUT ABOARD
FERRIES AND IN DUE COURSE WILL BE TAKEN TO CHI MA WAN FOR DETENTION
UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND TO ALLOW FURTHER POLICE
ENQUIRIES TO BE MADE.
J
7. THIS FURTHER INCIDENT INVOLVING REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM SHOWS
THE LENGTHS TO WHICH THEY WILL GO AND THE RISKS THEY ARE PREPARED
TO TAKE TO REACH SHORE REGARDLESS OF THEIR OWN SAFETY OR THAT OF
OTHERS. IT ALSO EMPHASISES THE DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH CAN ARISE
WHEN PATIENCE SNAPS AND THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE
SECURITY FORCES FACE IN DEALING WITH THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES.
THEY ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED ON THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS DIFFICULT
SITUATION.
8.
THERE IS ALREADY AN ACUTE ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM IN OVERCROWDED
HONG KONG AND A DESPERATELY URGENT NEED FOR THE RATE OF
RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES TO BE STEPPED UP CONSIDERABLY AND AT
ONCE. SO FAR IN JUNE ONLY 1,572 REFUGEES HAVE LEFT HONG KONG AND
OF THESE 922 WERE IN RESPECT OF THE M.V SIBONGA'. MEANWHILE 18,834 MORE REFUGEES HAVE ARRIVED FROM VIETNAM. THE TOTAL NOW HERE IS 58,667 AND I APPEAL MOST EARNESTLY FOR COUNTRIES WHICH
2
HAVE