TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 153

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Mr Morgan, UN Department

RESTRICTED

HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

HKK 243/1

RÆCEIVED IN REGÁTAY KO,

· 7 SEP 1978

DESK OFFICER INDEX

Ni

REGORY

ction Ten

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1. Mr Brunson McKinley of the United States Embassy telephoned shortly before lunch to say that the Embassy had received instruc- tions in connection with the arrival in Hong Kong of 171 Vietnamese refugees on board a Liberian registered, but largely American owned container ship "Mohawk". The "Mohawk" had called at Hong Kong and

Since was on passage to Bangkok when she picked up the refugees. the ship was much nearer Hong Kong than Bangkok and the refugees were in a poor condition the Master had decided to return to Hong Kong rather than continue on his journey. Unfortunately he had not informed his company's agents in Hong Kong or, if he had, the agent had failed to pass on the message to the Hong Kong Government. result was that the "Mohawk" - together with its refugees - had arri- ved in Hong Kong unannounced. The Hong Kong authorities were under- standably annoyed and were taking the line that the Master should proceed to Bangkok and land his refugees there.

The

2. Mr McKinley said that the United States Government accepted that the Hong Kong authorities were within their rights in refusing to admit the refugees: under the ground rules the "Mohawk" ought to have gone on to Bangkok. However the refugees were in bad shape and the Thai authorities were notoriously unco-operative in such matters, so the Master decision to return to Hong Kong was under- standable. The US Government therefore hoped that the Hong Kong authorities would exceptionally agree to take the "ohawk" refugees

Represen- with a US guarantee that they would leave within 90 days. tations to this effect were being made by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and the State Department would be speaking similarly to the British Embassy. The US Embassy had been instructed to take parallel action with the FCO.

1

3. I said that I had not yet seen any report about the "Mohawk" refugees from Hong Kong. But if the situation was as Mr McKinley had described it it would be difficult for HMG to put pressure on The Hong the Hong Kong Government to do as the Americans wanted. Kong authorities had been very generous in their treatment of Vietnamese refugees, and the number of refugees had now outstripped the facilities available in Hong Kong. The problem was becomming

I would increasingly serious and a line had to be drawn somewhere. nevertheless report what Mr McKinley had had to say and let him know, when we had seen a report from the Hong Kong Government, what if any action we proposed to take.

4. I gather from Mr Stagg that you have received a telephone call from Hong Kong which foreshadowed the US Embassy approach. Hong Kong will no doubt follow up with a telegram. You will no doubt want to mention Mr McKinley's very low-key approach in replying to that telegram, but I do not think we should press the Hong Kong Government too hard, particularly after their recent agreement to take the 400+ refugees picked up by the USS "Whipple".

6 September 1978

SEAD.

RJT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Dept