TNAG-0791-FCO40-995-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 84

GRS 550

IMMEDIATE

XBY 191000Z MAY

CYPHER CAT A

FM SINGAPORE 19084OZ MAY

RESTRICTED

DESKBY (FCO) 191000Z MAY

RESTRICTED

See

89

+190

PA

HKK 243/1

88

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 2 MAY 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

No

यह

iro Rp.2211 Caz

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 176 OF 19 MAY

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR).

N.1.

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 24 : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM SS TONG SING

1. WHILE WE SHARE HONG KONG'S CRITICISM OF THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN'S ACTION, YOU WILL BE WELL AWARE FROM PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE THAT THERE IS NO CHANCE OF PERSUADING THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT REFUGEES, UNLESS SOME COUNTRY G GIVES A GUARANTEE TO TAKE THEM AFTER TWO OR THREE MONTHS IF THEY HAVE

NOT MEANWHILE BEEN RESETTLED ELSEWHERE. THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO

TAKE THESE PARTICULAR REFUGEES EVEN TEMPORARILY AS THEY HAVE ALREADY LANDED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. AS FOR THE ACTION OF THE TONG SING, WE SUSPECT THAT CAPTAINS OF SINGAPORE VESSELS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM PICKING UP BOAT REFUGEES AND THAT IN ASSISTING THESE 22 AS MUCH AS HE DID THE CAPTAIN EXCEEDED HIS ORDERS, AS WE HAVE REPORTED (EG DAVIES' LETTER OF 12 MAY TO MORGAN (UND) NOT TO HONG KONG -)) VESSELS BOTH OWNED AND REGISTERED IN SINGAPORE AS IS THE TONG SING ARE EXPECTED TO LAND ANY REFUGEES THEY HAVE PICKED UP AT OTHER PORTS,

SINGAPORE POLICY IS TO ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. EVEN IF THE TONG SING HAD PUT INTO HONG KONG THEREFORE TO OFFLOAD THEM (PARA 2 OF HONG KONG TUR) SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE DECLINED TO ACCEPT THEM WITHOUT A GUARANTEE, AND POSSIBLY EVEN WITH ONE.

RESTRICTED

/2. I QUESTION

}

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