KIS 500
INCLASSIFIED
FM FCO 292045Z DEC 73
TO INMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 977 OF 29 DECEMBER
MIPT: B3C REPORTS ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
EXTRACT ONE:
Lee
H407
Ikk
الجيد
RECEIVED A REC SIKY MJ. 51 20DECOR
DECK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
No
ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM CRAMMED ABOARD TWO
FREIGHTERS ARE STILL HOPING TO BE GIVEN SANCTUARY IN SOUTH-EAST
ASIAN PORTS. OFF HONG KONG, THE CAPTAIN OF THE TAIWANESE FREIGHTER HUEY FONG, SAID TODAY THAT TAIWAN HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE TWO-THOUSAND-SEVEN-HUNDRED REFUGEES ABOARD HIS VESSEL AND ALL THEY
COULD DO NOW WAS TO WAIT FOR PERMISSION TO LAND IN HONG KONG.
PUT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THE REFUGEES. SOME OF THOSE ON BOARD ARE REPORTED TO HAVE THREATENED HASS SUICIDE IF THE SHIP SETS SAIL. MEANWHILE, ANOTHER SHIP, THE TUNG AN, WITH TWO-THOUSAND-THREE -HUNDRED REFUGEES ON BOARD HAS ANCHORED IN MANILA BAY.
EXTRACT TWO:
OFF HONG KONG, THE OTHER REFUGEE SHIP, THE FUEY FONG, WITH ITS TWO THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED REFUGEE PASSENGERS, IS CONTINUING TO DEFY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND REFUSING TO SAIL AWAY. THE REFUGEES TOLD ME DY RADIO TELEPHONE TONIGHT THAT THE SHIP WAS DEING RUN BY A TWELVE-AV COMMITTEE INCLUDING MEDICAL PEOPLE, SCHOOL TEACHERS, BUSINESSMEN AND STUDENTS, THEIR SPOKEMAN INSISTED THAT NOTHING WOULD MAKE THEM PUT TO SEA AGAIN BUT HE STRONGLY DENIED THAT THEY PAD ANY VIOLENT ACTION IN MIND. A HONG KONG NEWSPAPER REPORT HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE SHIP MIGHT BE SCUTTLED, MORE THAN FIFTEEN THOUSAND POUNDS OF PROVISIONS VERE CARRIED TO THE SHIP BY RAF HELICOPTERS DURING THE DAY, THE BIGGEST AIR-LIFT SINCE THE HUSY FONG ARRIVED IN THESE WATERS 01 DECEMBER THE 23RD. THE REFUGEES TOLD ME THEY WERE EXTREMELY CRATEFUL FOR THE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES WHICH INCLUDED BREAD, CANNED FISH, FRUIT AND MILK. ANOTHER THREE WOMEN AND A 2-YEAR OLD BOY HAVE BEEN FLOWN FROM THE SHIP TO A HOSPITAL ON SHORE.
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