GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM MANILA 110745Z JAN 79
TO POHORITY FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 017 OF 11 JANUARY
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 12 JAN1979
INDEX
PA
Action
en
INFO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG, ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, BANGKOK HONG KONG, GOVERNMET OFFICE LONDON.
UN REFUGEES: ''TUNG AN' SITREP.
No
1. ACTING HEAD OF CHANCERY SPOKE TO UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE THIS MORNING. BLATTER SAID PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT CHANGED BASIC POLICY ON VESSEL BUT HAVE AGREED TO LET EMBASSIES INTERVIEW. AND TAKE OFF REFUGEES. NO NEW DEADLINE HAS BEEN SET FOR MOVING
BOAT OUT.
2. PERHAPS OUR OFFER HAS, AFTER ALL, HELPED. DETAILS OF THE 21 WITH CLAIMED HONG KONG CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN SENT BY BLATTER TO IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES AND UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG. WE ARE NOW PROCESSING THE 7 WITH UK CLAIMS, WHILST U.S. RED
CROSS ARE AN ALYZING THE 650 CLAIMING U.S. CONNECTIONS.
3. BLATTER SAYS HE IS TRYING TO GET CANADIANS TO ALTER THEIR OFFER TO TAKE 300 TO 350 FROM THE MANILA CENTRE PROVIDED CORRESPONDING NUMBER ARE MOVED ASHORE FROM TUNG AN''. HE WOULD PREFER THEM TO TAKE SOME AT LEAST FROM THE VESSEL TO HELP RELIEVE CONDITIONS ON BOARD AND FURTHER TO DETER PHILIPPINE INTENTIONS FROM SENDING
VESSEL ON TO HONG KONG.
3. FOR HONG KONG.
ATION
WE SHALL LET YOU KNOW OF ANY INDICATIONS THAT THE ''TUNG AN'' IS TO PUT TO SEA, BUT THIS NOW SEEMS UNLIKELY IN IMMEDIATE FUTURE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL REUTERS BUREAU CHIEF OWNERS OF VESSEL ARE CLAIMING THROUGH SOLICITORS THAT REFUGEES AREE RESTRAINING MASTER FROM SAILING TO HONG KONG. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS ACCORDING TO CORRESPONDENTS AND COASTGUARD REPORTS.
BENTLEY
FILES.
COPIES TO
UND
PS.
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
HK & GD
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
SEAD
PS/MR LUARD
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
FED
PS/PUS
SAD
SIR A DUFF
MR BIRT
EID (E)
PUSD
OID
MR CORTAZZI.
MR WEIR
MR MURRAY
QUEEN ANKE'S GATE.
HOME OFFICE
LUKAR HOUSE CROYDON
IPD
NEWS D
CONFIDENTIAL
MVD
98
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