TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 86

GR 295

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 231816Z DEC 78

HKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY HO. 51 29 DEC1978.

INDEX

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE NO

TELNO.1481 OF 23 DECEMBER,

$74,

No

No129/1202!

See (375

+379

INFO IMMEDIATE: UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON,

PRIORITY: PEKING, CANBERRA, MANILA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE,

BANGKOK, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,

INFO SAVING : HANOI.

372

MY TELNO.1488: ''HUEY FONG''.

1. MIFT CONTAINS A TEXT WHICH WE GAVE THE U.S CONSULATE GENERAL

AT 231250Z AND WHICH THEY AGREED TO SEND IMMEDIATELY TO THE U.S EMBASSY IN TAIPEH, STATE DEPARTMENT, ETC.

2. YOU WILL SEE FROM PARA.9 (B) OF MIFT THAT WE HOPE H.M.G CAN HELP, IF NECESSARY, OVER THE 300 ETHNIC VIETNAMESE. (WE ESTIMATE THAT 50 TO 100 OF THESE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE U.S AS CATEGORY 1 OR 2 CASES: A PRECISE FIGURE COULD NOT BE GIVEN UNTIL THEY REACHED HONG KONG FROM TAIWAN). GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

3. WE DO NOT INTEND TO LET THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN KNOW THE POSITION WE ARE TAKING (PARA.8 OF MIFT) UNTIL THE U.S CONSULATE-

GENERAL HAS A REPLY FROM TAIPEH.

4. TWO REFUGEES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL (PLUS ONE RELATIVE,

ON MEDICAL ADVICE). MEDICAL STAFF AND A POLICE LAPLATOON ARE ON BOARD. THERE IS A MODERATE SWELL (2 TO 3 FOOT WAVES).

5. THERE ARE ALSO THREE JAPANESE FEMALES ON BOARD EXCLAM.

CONFIDENTIAL

16.WE