INCOMING TELEGRAM
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
1973 CCT 5 02
FHG329EKR012
7
PEI
NNNN VV
00 PUDTC
DE RUEHTP #6734 2780250
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
0 05025OZ OCT 78
TO RUDTC/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE
FM AMEMBASSY TAIPEI
871
INFO RUFHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMSDIATE 0390 RUMJD H/AMCONSUL HONG KONG IMMEDIATE 8300 RUEHC/ SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9282
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LIMITED OFFICIAL USE TAIPEI 06734
E. 0. 11652: N/A
TAGS:
SUBJECT:
210
FROM:
1:10.6734/
HKK 243/1
DIVED IN REGISTRY RO. 51
10 OCT 1978
DESK OF INDEX
REG TRY
Action T
ten
101
IMMEDIATE
SREF
INDOCHINESE REFUGEES, UK REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
REF: A. LONDON 25994, B. HONG KONG 11404, C. STATE 252672
1.
REPRESENTING BRITISH INTERESTS IN TAIWAN, ACTING CHIEF, CONSULAR SECTION AND CONSULAR OFFICER HANDLING REFUGEE CASES HERE CALLED ON THE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS. MOFA, ROC AT 1500 HOURS ON OCTOBER 4, 1978, TO DELIVER LETTER AND EXPRESS CONCERN OVER PLIGHT OF INDOCHINESE REFUGEES PICKED UP BY BRITISH FREIGHTER "WELL PARK" AND TO OUTLINE UKG'S GUARANTEE FOR ONWARD RESETTLEMENT WITHIN THREE MONTHS.
2.
THE DIRECTOR INFORMED THE CONSULAR OFFICERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC) WAS SYMPATHETIC TO THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES BUT IT COULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE TEMPORARY LANDING OF THE 343 INDOCHINESE REFUGEES BECAUSE THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES OF THE REFUGEE CAMPS IN THE PENGHUS ARE ALREADY AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY. CONSULAR OFFICER HANDLING REFUGEE CASES RECEIVED UNOFFICIAL REPORT THAT CONDITIONS AT REFUGEE CAMPS EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT A CHINESE FISHING BOAT HAS PICKED UP APPROXIMATELY 90 INDOCHINESE REFUGEES AND IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN TAIWAN SHORTLY.
3. THE DIRECTOR REMINDED THE CONSULAR OFFICERS THAT THE 40 INDOCHINESE REFUGEES ABOARD THE BRITISH VESSEL "AVON FOREST" (REF B) ARE STILL IN TAIWAN. HE ADDED THAT THE LANDING OF THESE REFUGEES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A PRECEDENT. HE ADDED THAT THE ROC WOULD CONSIDER UNDER HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERA- TION TO GRANT THE 343 REFUGEES ABOARD THE "WELL PARK" IMMEDIATE TRANSIT PRIVILEGES.
4. CHARGE WILL RAISE CASE WITH MOFA VICE MINISTER CHIEN DURING OCTOBER 5 CALL.
5. COMMENT: A RECENT VISIT TO THE PESCADORES REFUGEE CAMP BY TWO CONSULAR OFFICERS CONFIRMS THAT THE CAMP IS OVER- CROWDED AND CANNOT ACCOMMODATE 343 MORE REFUGEES,
6. REFUGEE OFFICER HAS JUST RECEIVED WORD THROUGH UNOFFICIAL SOURCE THAT THE 40 INDOCHINESE OFF THE "AVON FOREST" ARE GOING TO BE MOVED WITHIN POSSIBLY TWO WEEKS. CAN THIS BE CON- FIRMED? IF THE DEPARTURE OF THE "AVON FOREST" REFUGEES COULD BE ACCELERATED IT WOULD ADD TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE PRE- VIOUS GUARANTEE AND MIGHT THEREFORE HELP US IN PURSUING THE "WELL PARK" AND FUTURE CASES. BROWN
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#ATLA
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