TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 201

GR 345

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 0610332 NOV 78

See 278

279

280

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.1276 OF 6 NOVEMBER 78,

AND TO PRIORITY CANBERRA, JAKARTA

INFO PRIORITY HANOI, KUALA LUMPUR,

PA

HKK 243

268

RECEIVED IN REG: 0.51

- 8 NOV 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

طر

PA

(RE

3 RY

Action T en

CLE

ROUTINE SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON,

239

MY TELNO.1229 (NOT TO ALL): VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD PANAMANIAN VESSEL M.V HAIPHONG.

1. PRESS REPORTS (E.G REUTERS FROM KUALA LUMPUR ON 4 NOVEMBER) AND INFORMATION PASSED TO THE U.S EMBASSY IN KUALA LUMPUR BY THE AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER SUGGEST THAT THE SHIP REFERRED TO IN REFTEL IS NOW IN INDONESIAN WATERS, OFF THE

ISLAND OF SIANTAN IN THE NANTUNA ARCHIPELAGO.

2. ACCORDING TO THE AUSTRALIAN SOURCE:

(A) THE SHIP IS THE M.V HAIPHONG, ORIGINALLY MALAYSIAN OWNED

BUT TRANSFERRED TO A HONG KONG GROUP IN EARLY OCTOBER AND REGISTERED UNDER PANAMANIAN FLAG (REGISTRATION IS SAID TO BE

DUE TO EXPIRE ABOUT 10 NOVEMBER);

(B) ABOUT 3,000 REFUGEES ARE ABOARD:

(C) IF THE SHIP ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA THE REFUGEES WILL BE REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM (BECAUSE THE REFUGEES BOARDED THE SHIP WITH HELP FROM VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS).

3. WE ARE CHECKING DETAILS OF CLAIMED HONG KONG OWNERSHIP.

MEANWHILE GRATEFUL IF CANBERRA WOULD SEEK CONFIRMATION OF THE

AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE (PARA.2(C) ABOVE).

4. FOR JAKARTA: GRATEFUL TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF INDONEST AN HANDLING OF THIS CASE.

MACLEHOSE

REPETITION TO HANG REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION, REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POSTS

FILES

UND

SEAD

HKJGD MR CORTAZZI MRSTRATTON MR WEIR

COPIES

ΤΟ

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

LONDON