TNAG-0654-FCO40-803-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 65

GR 179

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 140815Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HKE 24/300)!

14 OCT 1977

134

{

No

TO PRIORITY TOKYO TELNO 51 OF 14 OCTOBER 1977

INFO PRIORITY F C O, UKMIS GENEVA.

Luken

Sent

By in hand) MN Morgan HOLD

+ resubmit

LIND

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

YOU MAY LIKE TO BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY JAPANESE CONSUL GENERAL ABOUT A JAPANESE TUG TOWING A TANKER WHICH PICKED UP 72 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA APPARENTLY ON 7 OCTOBER 1977. THE TUG WAS EN ROUTE FROM BRAZIL

TO JAPAN VIA INDIAN OCEAN BUT AT ONLY 4 KNOTS AN HOUR. AT THIS

RATE IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT ONE MONTH TO REACH JAPAN AND MEANWHILE

THE REFUGEES CONDITIONS ON THE TUG ARE DIFFICULT. ITS OWNERS

HERE (ITOH SHIPPING CO.) HAVE ASKED ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF IT

PUTTING INTO HONG KONG ON ABOUT 19 OCTOBER.

WE HAVE TOLD THE JAPANESE THAT WE WOULD BE GLAD TO CO-OPERATE

PROVIDED THEY COULD ASSURE US OF THEIR CO-OPERATION IN SIMILAR

CASE IN FUTURE (EG. A REPETITION OF GOLDEN DOLPHIN'').

MEANWHILE THEY ARE OBTAINING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PRESENT

POSITION OF THE SHIP ON CONDITIONS OF REFUGEES.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD

FED

SEAD

CONFIDENTIAL

:

14/10