CONFIDENTIAL
GRS 250
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 0110ØØZ
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 50
- 2 MAY 1975
NICK 18/25
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 421 OF 1 MAY INFO WASHINGTON
BANGKOK AND PEKING.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
REC
MEX.
REF
16
169·120
THERE ARE NOW TWO GROUPS OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG. THE FIRST CONSISTS OF NINE, INCLUDING AN AR VN COLONEL, AND ONE FAMILY GROUP, WHO FORCED THEIR WAY ON TO AN AIR AMERICA PLANE WITHOUT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, ARRIVING FROM SAIGON ON 29 APRIL. PILOT CLAIMS THAT IF HE HAD NOT AGREED TO CARRY THEM HE WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE OFF:
2. SECOND GROUP, MAINLY EX-EMPLOYEES OF AIR AMERICA AND AIR VIETNAM, CONSISTS OF 58 PERSONS INCLUDING ELEVEN FAMILY GROUPS. THEY ARRIVED
ON AFTERNOON OF 30 APRIL ON A SCHEDULED SWISS AIR FLIGHT FROM BANGKOK THEY MANAGED TO FLY FROM SAIGON TO BANGKOK, WHERE WE SUSPECT THEY WERE REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND, AND WE RE THEREAFTER TAKEN IN CARE BY A PRIVATE AMERICAN CITIZEN. HE SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THEM FROM THE TRANSIT LOUNGE ON TO THE SWISS AIR FLIGHT. NONE OF THE 58 HOLD ANY
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.
3. ALL 67 ARE NOW ACCOMMODATED IN REASONABLE CONDITIONS IN AN UN-
USED ARMY CAMP IN KOWLOON PENDING ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE IN
CONCERT WITH UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL FOR ONWARD TRAVEL. SWISS AIR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAVING BROKEN INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTIONS AND WE ARE EXPLORING WITH THEM POSSIBILITY OF .
ASSISTANCE WITH ONWARD PASSAGES.
4. UNITED STATES CONSUL-GENERAL IS BEING MOST HELPFUL AND IS
REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT AMERICANS WILL GET AUTHORITY SOON TO
EHOP TO MOVE THE REFUGEES ON. HE IS ALSO IN TOUCH WITH THE HONG
KONG REGIONAL OFFICE OF 1.C.E.M.
CONFIDENTIAL
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