GR 385
'IMMEDIATE
DESKBY FCO 051400Z
DESKBY BANGKOK 062200Z
CYPHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 051045Z
RESTRICTED
DESKBY FCO 051400Z
DESKBY BANGKOK 06920ZZ
RESTRICTED
+4
Lee (1974) √17
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 572 OF 5 MAY 1978
INFO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK, UKMIS GENEVA,
(69)
77
ра
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.
- 8 MAY 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
по
д
YOUR TELNO 136 TO BANGKOK VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD
MV ''SIBONGA''.
51
REGISTRY ¡Action Taken
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THIS DECISION. THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAINTAINING THE PRINCIPLE OF LANDING REFUGEES AT THE FIRST PORT OF CALL MAKES IT ESSENTIAL THAT THE THAIS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO YOUR GUARANTEE. WE WERE DISTURBED AT THE IMPLICATION IN BANGKOK TELNO 200 TO YOU THAT THE SHIP MIGHT LEAVE BANGKOK BEFORE YOUR OFFER COULD BE PUT TO THE THAIS. WE HAVE THEREFORE ASKED BANGKOK (TELECON ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER/HAGGIE) TO TELL THE CAPTAIN THAT HONG KONG IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE REFUGEES AND THAT THE SHIP SHOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL THERE HAVE BEEN FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE THAIS. WE REGRET THE DELAY CAUSED TO THE VESSEL BUT BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE TO ALLOW A LOCAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY TO PREVENT YOUR OFFER BEING MADE AND THE THAI POSITION TESTED. WE REMAIN WILLING,
OF COURSE, TO ACCEPT SOME OF THE REFUGEES TEMPORARILY IF
THE THAIS PROVE OBDURATE.
2. WE HAVE ASKED BANGKOK TO REPORT BY TELEPHONE IF THE SHIP
LEAVES BEFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO CARRY OUT YOUR INSTRUCTIONS, MEANWHILE, WE ARE MAKING CONTINGENCY PLANS TO RECEIVE THE REFUGEES HERE. WE WERE PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO
RESTRICTED
/OFFER TO ACCEPT
73
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