TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 94

GRPS 130

CONFIDENTIAL

DKBY 221615Z

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 2222547 DEC 78

See 372

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO.1478 OF 22 DECEMBER,

HKK 243//

369

Attaʊ IN REJAKI No. 51

29 DEC 1978

DEs:,,

INDEX

No

129/12

REG RY Action Tun

CLE

INFO IMMEDIATE: PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA,

1.

PRIORITY: WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, MANILA, KUALA LUMPUR,

SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, HANOI, H.K GOVT OFFICE LONDON,

368

MY TELNO.1477 : ''HUEY FONG'.

THE SHIP WAS SIGHTED BY AUXILIARY AIR FORCE ISLANDER AIRCRAFT

AT 1326 HONG KONG TIME. SHE APPEARED REASONABLY WELL FOUND, NOT DOWN TO HER MARKS BUT WITH REFUGEES OCCUPYING PART OF THE DECK

UNDER AWNINGS, HMS WASPERTON MADE CONTACT WITH VESSEL AT 1545Z.

2. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO TURN HER AWAY FROM HONG KONG, BUT ARE PREPARED AND HAVE ARRANGED TO SUPPLY HER WITH FUEL, WATER, EMERGENCY PROVISIONS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES ETC, IF NECESSARY.

WE HAVE REPEATED TO THE MASTER OUR REFUSAL TO ALLOW THE SHIP

TO ENTER HONG KONG OR TO LAND REFUGEES HERE.

MACLEHOSE

[REPETITION TO HANOI REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION, REPEATED

AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POSTS]

FILES

UND SEAD

HK & GD

FED

NEWS D

SAD

EID

PUSD

OID

IPD

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

SIR A DUFF

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY MR LEAHY

CONFIDENTIAL