TNAG-0877-FCO40-1087-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 52

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2. THE REFUGEES ON BOARD THE 'HUEY FONG'' REQUEST THAT THE HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES INTERVENE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG NG

SO THAT THE DECISION TAKEN IN THEIR REGARD BE RE-EXAMINED IN A

BENEVOLENT MANNER AND THAT ALL THE REFUGEES ON BOARD THE ''HUEY

FONG'' BE AUTHORISED TO DISEMBARK IN HONG KONG WITH LITTLE

DELAY.

TO PROHIBIT OUR DISEMBARKATION IN HONG KONG, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY

REFUSING GENEROUS COUNTRIES FROM ACCEPTING US IN THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD BE CONSIDERED, IN ALL FAIRNESS, AS AN UNJUST

DECISION. TO DECIDE TO IMPRISON THE REFUGEES WOULD ALSO UNCONTEST- ABLY BE TOO HARSH A MEASURE, AND RATHER UNUSAL.

MORE THAN 3,000 REFUGEES, THE MAJORITY COMPOSED OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ARE ENDURING THE WORST POSSIBLE SUFFERINGS. THEY HAVE ABANDONED THEIR PROPERTY, RISKED THEIR LIVES, AND LOST A GOOD NUMBER OF THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE CHINA SEA, WHILST ESCAPING FROM COMMUNIST VIETNAM IN SEARCH OF LIBERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. FOR ALMOST A MONTH THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LIE DOWN. THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR MORALE HAVE TOTALLY COLLAPSED. DISEASES ARE SPREADING AND THE WIDE RANGE OF THE BANEFUL CONSEQUENCES THAT THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS COULD HAVE ON THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF

THE CHILDREN IS SOMETHING DIFFICULT TO FORESEE.

IN THESE CONDITIONS, NO POLICY, NO LAW COULD BE CONSIDERED RATIONAL, HUMAN AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE CIVILISED WORLD, IF IT DID

NOT AIM AT RELIEVING OR STOPPING THESE SUFFERINGS.

3. IN ESCAPING FROM VIETNAM, THE REFUGEES ON BOARD THE ''HUEY FONG'' DID NOT HAVE THE INTENTION OF REACHING HONG KONG, SITUATED

TOO FAR FROM VIETNAM. AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, DESPITE THEIR ATTACHMENT TO HONG KONG AND TO ITS POPULATION, THE REFUGEES ARE READY TO PROCEED TO WHATEVER COUNTRY THAT WOULD RECEIVE THEM, PROVIDED THAT THE COUNTRY CONCERNED BELONGS TO THE FREE WORLD. THE REFUGEES WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO YOU AS WELL AS TO THE HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES FOR ALL THE MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN

TO ASSIST THEM IN THIS WAY.

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/ 4. WHILE COUNTING,