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FM HONG KONG 111012% SEP 79
TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 29 OF 11 SEPTEMBER
INFO PRIORITY F C O, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,
UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, TOKYO.
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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: 'SANKO HONOUR''.
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WE HAVE RECEIVED A REPORT THAT THE TANKER 'SANKO HONOUR'' IS STOPPED 504 MILES SSE OF HONG KONG AND HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY US NAVY VESSELS IN THE AREA TO PICK UP REFUGEES. SHE IS REGISTERED AND OWNED IN SINGAPORE ALTHOUGH THE PARENT COMPANY IS BELIEVED TO BE JAPANESE. SHE IS BOUND FOR HONG KONG ETA 0400 LOCAL ON 13 SEPTEMBER WITH 83,000 TONS OF FUEL OIL FOR ESSO HONG KONG, YOU SHOULD KNOW, IN CASE YOU ARE APPROACHED, THAT REFUGEES RESCUED AT SEA IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD ONLY BE LANDED IN HONG KONG AGAINST AN UNDERTAKING TO RESETTLE THE REFUGEES WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD (BY WHICH WE NORMALLY MEAN LESS THAN A
MONTH). WE WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT THIS UNDERTAKING TO BE FROM THE COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION OR OWNERSHIP, BUT IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE COUNTRY OF A PARENT COMPANY TO GIVE IT INSTEAD.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
PS/LFS
FS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SEAD
PS
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
MAED
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
SIR A DUFF
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD N G LENNOX
MR BULLARD
KR FERGUSSON MR FRETWELL
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
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