GR200
INMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A AND BY BAG
FM FCO 051800Z
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
See 13+77
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 359 OF 5 MAY
AND TO BANGKOK
INFO SAVING UKMIS GENEVA
73
ра
HKK 243
74
RECEIVED IN EEGSTRY NO. 51
- 8 MAY 1973
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
حسا
RESISTRY
PA
Action T-ker
HONG KONG TELMO 572% VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD MV QUOTE SIBONGA
UN QUOTE
1. WE ARE ADVISED BY BANGKOK (TELECON MURDOCH/MORGAN) THAT OWNERS HAVE, ON GROUNDS OF COST, INSTRUCTED SHIP TO SAIL ON 6 MAY WITH
REMAINING SEVENTEEN SOULS ON BOARD: DESPITE EMBASSY'S ADVICE TO
THEM TO KEEP SHIP IN BANGKOK UNTIL 8 MAY (FIRST AVAILABLE DATE OUR GUARANTEE CAN BE GIVEN TO THAIS)
2. WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT OWNERS HERE, SO FAR UNSUCCESS-
FULLY OUT OF WORKING HOURS, TO PERSUADE THEM TO REVERSE THEIR DECISION TO SAIL ON 6 MAY. WE HAVE ALSO, WITHOUT SUCCESS, ATTEMPTED
TO TELEPHONE ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER WHOM WE UNDERSTAND TOLD
MURDOCH THAT ON NO ACCOUNT WOULD THE QUOTE SIBONGA UNQUOTE BE
ALLOWED INTO HONG KONG WITH THE REFUGEES ABOARD, WE AGREE WITH THE STAND ON PRINCIPLE WHICH YOU HAVE TAKEN. HOWEVER, IF, IN THE EVENT, THE SHIP LEAVES BANGKOK WITH THE REFUGEES ON BOARD WE HOPE YOU WILL ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS, RECONSIDER ALLOWING THEM TO LAND ON THE BASIS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS IN PARA 2 YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.
OWEN
FILES
UND
HKOGD
SEAD
MV D
NEWS D PS|MRLUARD PSILORD GORONWY. ROBERTS
MR WEIR
MR MURRAY
MRFIGG
RESTRICTED
ΤΟ
COPIES
MR.C.BIRT
HOME OFFICE, CROYDON
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