TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 139

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BOTH CLAIMS ARE IMPLAUSIBLE, (A) BECAUSE A 30-YEAR OLD FREIGHTER IS

UNLIKELY TO BE USED FOR A NEW SHIPPING VENTURE (REFUGEE-TRAFFIC EXCEPTED) IN THE REGION AND (B) BECAUSE THE VESSEL IS NOT ELEGIEE FOR LIBERIAN REGISTRATION SINCE IT IS OVER 20 YEARS OLD AND HAS HOT BEEN REGISTERED BEFORE IN LIBERIA.

5. MORRIS HAS ALSO PASSED HIS ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING TO LOCAL

AUSTRALIAN AND U.S.A MISSIONS AND TO SAMPATKUMAR (UNHCR IN KUALA

LUMPUR) WHOM HE WILL LEAVE TO REPORT TO UNHCR IN GENEVA. DOES NOT INTEND TO GIVE DETAILS TO THE PRESS HERE.

6. WE SHALL REPORT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.

HE

MEANWHILE WE HAVE NO

SIGN YET OF THE OTHER VESSEL MENTIONED IN MY TELNO.1286,

7. GRATEFUL FOR TEXT OF ANY REPORTS PUT CUT BY BBC WORLD SERVICE ON THE ''HI HONG'' OR ON THE QUESTION OF BOAT REFUGEES AIDED BY

THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.

MACLEHOSE

FILES:

UND

SEAD

HK & G D

MVD

FED

COPIES TO:

MR C. BIRT HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

MAED

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

FS/MR LUARD

MR CORTAZZI

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON MR SLIGHT

SHIPPING FOLICY DIVN

DOT

MK WEIR

MR MURRAY

MR FIGG

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