TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 84

CONFIDENTIAL

4. THE H.K.G UNDERSTANDS THAT PRESENT ROC POLICY TOWARDS BOA REFUGEES IS AS RECORDED IN PARA.2(C) OF REFTEL, 1.E:

''TEMPORARY SHELTER WILL BE GIVEN BY THE ROC TO THE FOLLOWING

CATEGORIES OF REFUGEES;

(A) REFUGEES ARRIVED (SIC) AT TAIWAN BY SMALL BOATS:

(B)

(C)

REFUGEES PICKED UP AT SEA BY CHINESE SHIP OR BOATS: AND

INDOCHINESE REFUGEES OF CHINESE ORIGIN PICKED UP AT SEA BY FOREIGN SHIPS WITH ONE OF THE PORTS OF THE PROVINCE OF

TAIWAN SCHEDULED AS THE FIRST PORT-OF-CALL.''

5. SUB-PARA.(C) ABOVE (IF NOT (B)) CLEARLY APPLIES IN THIS CASE.

THE H.K.G INTENDS TO INFORM THE MASTER OF THE POLICY OF THE ROC AND TO PERSUADE HIM TO SAIL TO KAOHSIUNG AS SOON AS HOSPITAL CASES

HAVE BEEN OFFLOADED AND ADEQUATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES PROVIDED. BEFORE DOING SO, THE H.K.G WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE ROC HAS NOT CHANGED ITS POLICY. IT DOES

NOT WISH YOU TO APPROACH ROC OFFICIALS, SIMPLY TO ASSESS HOW POLICY STANDS, IN PRINCIPLE, AT PRESENT.

6. THE H.K.G WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD REPLY TO AMCONSUL

HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN 2001 HOURS GMT ON 24 DECEMBER.

7. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU ASSESS THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN

ROCH POLICY, THE H.K.G WILL SPEAK TO THE MASTER IN THE FOLLOWING

TERMS AT ABOUT 0100 HOURS GMT ON 24 DECEMBER:

''WE KNOW THAT THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN HAVE A GENEROUS

POLICY TOWARDS BOAT REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND THAT TEMPORARY

SHELTER WILL BE GIVEN TO INDOCHINESE REFUGEES OF CHINESE ORIGIN PICKED UP AT SEA BY FOREIGN SHIPS WITH A FIRST SCHEDULED PORT

OF CALL IN TAIWAN, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY REFUGEES TO BE

LANDED AT H.K WHEN H.K IS NOT FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL. HOWEVER, THE H.K.G IS WILLING FOR ALL 300 REFUGEES ON

BOARD YOUR SHIP WHO ARE OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN TO BE TRANSFERRED TO HONG KONG, IN TRANSIT TO OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, IMMEDIATELY

AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL IN TAIWAN. THE H.K.G HAS ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO INFORM THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN OF ITS

WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE THESE REFUGEES OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN.

2

CONFIDENTIAL

/ YOU SHOULD