}
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HKK 24:3
243/1.
1516
GR 130
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FM FCO 031230Z AUG 79
TO PRIORITY LISBON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 120 OF 3 AUGUST
My Aw Bla
INFO GOVERNOR HONG KONG WASHINTON UKMIS GENEVA UKMIS NEW YORK
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. TODAY'S DAILY TELEGRAPH REPORTS THAT THE AUTHORITIES IN
MACAU TOWED BOATS CONTAINING AT LEAST 500 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
OUT TO SEA SHORTLY BEFORE THE TYPHOON HIT THE AREA. THE REPORTS
SAID THAT UNLESS THE BOATS HAD MANAGED TO FIND SHELTER ON THE
CHINESE COAST THE REFUGESS WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLY DROWNED,
2. CORTAZZI DREW THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR'S ATTENTION THIS
MORNING TO THIS REPORT AND ASKED IF HE COULD SAY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT MACAU, WHICH WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A VILLAGE, SIMPLY HAD NO SPACE FOR REFUGEES: BUT HE ADMITTED THAT IF THE PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES HAD KNOWN OF THE TYPHOON
COMING THEY OUGHT TO HAVE GIVEN AT LEAST TEMPORARY SHELTER,
HE WAS SEEKING INFORMATION FROM LISBON.
CARRINGTON
FILES
SEAD
PS
ITK & GD
UND
TED
EESD
N AM D
SAD
HAED
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
NEWS D
MVD
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT PEOPLE
MR BULLARD
MR. FERGUSSON
MR FROTHELL
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