CONFIDENTIAL
through the Americans, have been made to clarify the position of the Taiwanese authorities. They have not said that they would accept the Huey Fong refugees if the vessel sailed to Taiwan, but nor have they said unequivocally that they would not.
6.
The Hong Kong Government have regularly supplied the Huey Fong refugees with food and water, and have provided hospital treatment for those needing it. Conditions on board the ship are obviously very crowded, but not intolerable.
7.
The Hong Kong Government nevertheless agree that the present situation cannot be allowed to continue. Mr Ashley can be told in confidence that one final effort is being made to persuade the ship's master to go to Taiwan. On the assumption that this fails, the Governor's present intention is to allow the Huey Fong to enter Hong Kong towards the end of this week. This will have to be done
in a way which does not prejudice the chances of successful prosecution of the master and owners of the Huey Fong: as Mr Ashley will be aware, there is strong reason to believe that the refugees were picked up as part of a commercial operation in which the Vietnamese authorities were involved.
8.
If the Huey Fong is allowed to enter Hong Kong, the first four of the conditions mentioned by Mr Ashley in his letter will certainly apply. We also agree that major efforts will have to be made, both indirectly and through the UNHCR to persuade other countries to help to relieve the burden on Hong Kong. The United Kingdom will play its part: the Home Secretary will announce later this week that Britain is to admit further groups of Vietnamese refugees from
Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia.
International Action
9.
International consultations on the Indo-Chinese refugee problem took place on the initiative of the UNHCR on 11 and 12 December (Mr Luard represented the United Kingdom and reported to the House of Commons on 15 December). These talks were useful: some 5,000 additional resettlement places were pledged and additional financial contributions amounting to US$12 million (including
$1 million from the United Kingdom) were announced to help the UNHCR
K
2
M
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.