TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 203

CPS 190 IMMEDIATE

CLAIR

FM F C 0 141553Z

UNCLASSIFIED

DESKBY 150100Z

243 // RD. HKK 243//

AY NO. 51

15 AUG 1978

NX OFFICER

INDEX

PA

PEO TRY Action Taton

Ра

Cleared with

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 626 OF 14 AUGUST

INFO SAVING UKMIS GENEVA.

VIETNAMESE REFUCEES: QUOTE' AVON FOREST UNQUOTE.

3

136

ба

1. THE QUOTE AVON FOREST, UNQUOTE A UK OWNED AND REGISTERED CONTAINER SHIP, HAS PICKED UP 40 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES (32 ADULT MALES, 4 ADULT FEMALES, 2 FEMALE CHILDREN, 2 BABIES) WHOSE BOAT AND PROVISIONS WERE SWAMPED DURING A TYPHOON 200 MILES SOUTH-EAST OF HO CHI MINH CITY. THE SHIP IS SAILING FOR KAOHSIUNG (TAIWAN) AND EXPECTS TO ARRIVE THERE AT 0600 (LOCAL TIME) ON 16 AUGUST, WHERE IT PLANS TO REMAIN 4 DAYS BEFORE SAILING FOR PANAMA,

2. BECAUSE OF TAIWAN'S PAST RECORD IN RESPECT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND THE ADDED COMPLICATION THAT UNHCR DOES NOT OPERATE IN TAIWAN, WE ARE FORCED TO ASK YOU TO PERMIT THE ĮTEMPORARY LANDING OF THESE REFUGEES, AS THE SHIP IS UK REGISTERED, WE WOULD GUARANTEE TO BRING TO THE UK THOSE REFUGEES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN RESETTLED

ELSEWHERE WITHIN 3 MONTHS.

3. REALISING HOW STRETCHED YOUR REFUGEE RECEPTION FACILITIES ALREADY ARE, NEVERTHELESS WE CONSIDER THAT THE SHIP SHOULD NOT CROSS THE PACIFIC WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON BOARD, BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE

ACCOMMODATION AND LIFE-SAVING FACILITIES.

OWEN

FILES

UND

HK & GD

SEAD

FED

MR.WEIR

MR.MURRAY

COPIES TO:

IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY BRANCH · LUNAR HOUSE WELLESLEY RD.CROYDON