TNAG-0791-FCO40-995-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 83

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GR 200 IMMEDIATE

ER CAT A

PYF CO 191819Z

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Lee 90

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$

TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE TEL NO 135 OF 19 MAY, INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR).

88

AT

PA

HKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

2 2 MAY 1978

(89)

RECIL RY

Action Taken

OFSK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

CLE

YOUR TEL NO 176 AND HONG KONG TEL NO 24 TO SINGAPORE: VIETNAMESE

REFUGEES FROM THE SS TONG SING,

1. WE AGREE THERE WOULD BE NO POINT IN ASKING THE SINGAPORE

GOVERENMENT TO ACCEPT THESE REFUGEES, THEIR SEHAVIOUR TO DATE

OVER QUOTE BOAT UNQUOTE REFUGEES INDICATES THAT THEY WILL REFUSE

TO TAKE THIS PARTICULAR GROUP,

2. IT IS NOT CLEAR, IN THE ABSENCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIFERAFT (IE, WHETHER IT WAS OVERLOADED OR OF INADEQUATE CONSTRUCTION), WHETHER THE ACTION OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE SS TONG SING

WAS IN BREACH OF THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA CONVENTION: THERE IS

NOTHING IN THE CONVENTION TO PREVENT A MASTER FROM ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE SHIP ON A LIFERAFT. HOWEVER, WE DO SEE ADVANTAGE IN YOUR DRAWING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT, AS YOU

SUGGEST, THE REPORTED IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION OF THE CAPTAIN OF THIS

VESSEL. YOU COULD MAKE THE POINT THAT ACTIONS OF THIS KIND COULD

WELL INVITE HOSTILE PRESS REACTION OVERSEAS GIVEN THE CONSIDERABLE

INTEREST IN THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES ESCAPING FROM VIETNAM BY BOAT.

OVEN

FILES

•

UND

SRAD

HKIGD

MYD

NEWS.D.

PS / LORD CERENWY

Ps[he huARD

MR WEIR.

MR HURRAY

MR FIGS. MR STRATION

COPIES TO

HR.e. BIRT.

ROBERTS

HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON.

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