TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 75

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250

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM FCO 021823Z

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

HKIS 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY RO. 51

3 OCT 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

No

PA

RECIO RY Action Ten

TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA TEL NO 296 OF 2 OCTOBER

INFO WASHINGTON AND HONG KONG

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

GLE

See

203

1. THE OWNERS (DENHOLM LINE STEAMERS OF GLASGOW) OF A UK-REGISTERED BULK CARRIER, THE **WELL PARK'', HAVE INFORMED US THAT THE VESSEL RESCUED 343 REFUGEES (FROM ONE CRAFT IN DISTRESS) ON 1 OCTOBER. THE **WELL PARK IS EN ROUTE FROM BAHIA BLANCA TO KAOHSIUNG (TAIWAN) WHERE IT IS DUE TO ARRIVE ON 4 OCTOBER. THE VESSEL EXPECTS TO SPEND 20 DAYS DISCHARGING CARGO AND 10 DAYS IN DRY DOCK AT KAOHSIUNG.

2. SHIP'S CAPTAIN HAS REPORTED THE GENERAL HEALTH OF THE REFUGEES TO BE GOOD: THERE IS ONE CASE OF MEASLES. OWNERS HAVE ALRADY PASSED DETAILS TO UNHCR IN GENEVA.

“ን

3. THE US EMBASSY HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO INFORM THE TAIWANESE (THROUGH THE US MISSION IN TAIPEI) OF THE SHIP'S IMPENDING ARRIVAL AND TO EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT THE REFUGEES WILL BE ALLOWED TO LAND, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY. WE HAVE GIVEN THEM AUTHORITY TO PASS ON TO TAIWANESE A GUARANTEE THAT ANY OF THE GROUP, NOT OTHERWISE RESETTLED ELSEWHERE WITHIN THREE MONTHS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. TAIWANESE HAVE A STRICT POLICY ON ADMITTANCE OF ''BOAT REFUGEES''. NEVERTHELESS, WE HOPE OUR GUARANTEE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE.

4. PLEASE INFORM UNHCR OF THE ABOVE.

RESTRICTED

/ 5. SINCE THERE

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