RESTRICTED
4. THE HUEY FONG IS THE LATEST OF SEVERAL MERCHANT VESSELS WHICH HAVE APPEARED OFF PORTS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHOM THEY CLAIM TO HAVE PICKED UP AT SEA. THERE IS EVERY REASON TO FEAR THAT IF THOSE ABOARD THE HUEY FONG ARE ALLOWED TO LAND IN HONG KONG, MANY SIMILAR SHIPS WOULD FOLLOW IN ITS WAKE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
ADDITIONAL POINTS
5. OFFERS OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES FROM THIRD COUNTRIES FOR REFUGEES ABOARD THE HUEY FONG SHOULD BEST BE DIRECTED TO THE UNHCR IN GENEVA WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR THE OFFERS TO BE FORWARDED TO THE AUTHORITIES IN WHICHEVER COUNTRY THE REFUGEES ARE FINALLY ALLOWED TO LAND. FOR THEIR PART, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD WELCOME OFFERS OF PLACES FOR THE THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOWED TO LAND TEMPORARILY IN HONG KONG UNDER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S NORMAL POLICY. MANY OF THESE REFUGEES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SUCH OFFERS FOR MANY MONTHS.
6. (FOR UNATTRIBUTABLE USE WITH TRUSTED CONTACTS ONLY)
IF ASKED WHETHER THOSE ON BOARD THE HUEY FONG ARE GENUINE REFUGEES, YOU MAY, WHERE YOU THINK APPROPRIATE, SAY THAT THE PRESUMPTION IS THAT THIS WAS AN ARRANGED VOYAGE WITH PAYMENTS BEING MADE TO OFFICIALS IN VIETNAM AND TO THE OWNERS AND MASTER OF THE SHIP: BUT THAT FIRM EVIDENCE COULD PROBABLY ONLY BE OBTAINED THROUGH CLOSE QUESTIONING OF THE MASTER, CREW AND REFUGEES AT THE PORT AT WHICH THEY ARE LANDED.
BACKGROUND
7. IN GENUINE EMERGENCIES, THE H.K. GOVERNMENT GIVES ASSISTANCE TO VESSELS FOR WHICH H.K. IS NOT THE FIRST PORT OF CALL. IN THE
CASE OF THE HUEY FONG URGENT MEDICAL CASES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND ADEQUATE FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES PROVIDED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE SHIP NOT TO PROCEED TO ITS FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL. AN ESCORT NAVAL VESSEL WITH 2,700 LIFEJACKETS HAS BEEN
OFFERED.
2 RESTRICTED
18.
UNDER
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