TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 151

IMMEDIATE

PS Lani S.R PS ML Luard M. Cartag AL Stratton Hils UND

NAD SEAD

HK Ric

Mr Shagy

Frags

After aproantations from the us

Her Ha Government to allow Afuyors

Consul General

harr agrood

loud under

a

h

quaronk of-

Amoval within 30 days.

Fily

忍

HKK 243/1

Vin

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NUMBER 3499 OF 6 SEPTEMBEREIVED IN REGIJFFY NO. 51 INFO HONG KONG, HANOI, BANGKOK, UKMIS GENEVA?

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: "AMERICAN MOHAWK * *

- 7 SEP 1978

DARK OFFICER INDEX

ASGOTRY

ction Tén

1

1. STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE TOLD US THAT THERE ARE 171 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON THE US-OWNED BUT LIBERIAN-REGISTERED VESSEL AMERICAN MOHAWK'S WHICH IS APPARENTLY IN HONG KONG HARBOUR. THE VESSEL PICKED UP THE REFUGEES SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING HONG KONG, INSTEAD OF GOING ON TO BANGKOK (THE FIRST PORT OF CALL) IT RETURNED TO HONG KONG, THE AMERICANS HAVE NOW ASKED IF WE CAN MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO OUR POLICY IN THIS CASE AND ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO BE LANDED AT HONG KONG. THEY POINT OUT THAT THE AMERICAN MOHANK?? IS A CONTAINER SHIP AND THE REFUGEES ARE HOUSED ON DECK THEY CONSIDER A VOYAGE FROM HONG KONG TO BANGKOK IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE DANGEROUS. SINCE THEY RECOGNISE THAT THIS WOULD BE AN EXCEPTION TO OUR POLICY, THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE A GUARANTEE THAT THE REFUGEES WILL BE RESETTLED IN THE US IF OTHER HOMES CANNOT BE FOUND FOR THEM WITHIN 90 DAYS.

2. STATE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD US THAT THEY WERE DISSATISFIED WITH THE UNHRC'S PERFORMANCE IN HONG KONG (CF PARAGRAPHL 5 OF ORAFO LETTER OF 25 AUGUST TO PATERSON)? THE US MISSION AT GENEVA WAS 157 BEING INSTRUCTED TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS; AND TO URGE THAT THE

MACAO FACILITY BE ESTABLISHED QUICKLY. ON THE QUESTION OF VIET- NAMESE REFUGEES FROM THAILAND (PARAGRAPH 6 OF LETTER UNDER REFERENCE) THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY HAD A GENERAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE THAIS IN THAT THE LATTER WERE ONLY WILLING TO TAKE REFUGEES, AGAINST GUARANTEES, FOR 30 DAYS)