GR 290
CONFIDENTIAL
1530
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1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 070850Z AUG
HKK 243
NO.
M.DEX
OFFICE AW 8/1
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFI TELEGRAM NUMBER 1121 OF 7 AUGUST, 1979.
ра
YOUR TELNOS 625 AND 626: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON MY RUDDBANK.
(522)
(15240
1. THIS IS TO CONFIRM TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH MCLAREN.
2. THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING (E.G. PARA 2 OF MY TELN 01113 AND BY IMPLICATION PARAS 3 AND 4 OF YOUR TELNO 625). IN HIS SIGNALS TO HONG KONG THE MASTER NEVER REQUESTED PERMISSION EITHER TO ENTER OR TO UNLOAD THE REFUGEES.
3. HIS FIRST SIGNAL ONLY CONTAINED THE DETAILS IN PARA 1 OF MY TELNO 1113 AND STATED THAT HE REQUIRED URGENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR TWO INJURED, AND THAT TWO CHILDREN HAD DIED, AND GAVE AN E.T.A. HONG KONG,
see 1534
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4. A SUBSEQUENT SIGNAL DESCRIBED THE NATURE OF THE CARGO AND ITS DESTINATION, AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE REFUGEES (1.E. THAT THEY WERE ALL VIETNAMESE) AND STATED THAT THE SHIP WAS IN QUOTE URGENT NEED OF ASSISTANCE FOR TWO REFUGEES BEFORE CONTINUING
THE VOYAGE UNQUOTE.
5. THE SHIP DROPPED ANCHOR OFF PO TOI EARLY THIS MORNING AND WAS
BOARDED. ONE BOY WITH A DUODENAL ULCER AND A GIRL WITH A
FRACTURED THIGH WERE REMOVED TO THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL. THEY HAD NO RELATIONS ON BOARD. THE AGENTS SUPPLIED WATER
AND PROVISIONS.
6. WHILE HERE NO VERBAL REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE TO ENTER OR LAND
REFUGEES.
CONFIDENTIAL
/7. THE CAPTAIN