7
LONDON FROM HOM BOM.
PAIMILIA DESI
JURSDAY, 18 JANU RY 1979
TEL CALL 040
LEY FO.
1200 1800.
ZN 03 171
CE:
The Hors Kong Government has announced that if the Vietnamese refugee ship the HUEY FONG decides to enter Hong Kong waters with its nearly three-thousand refugees cboard it will not be prevented from doing so. Patricia Penn in Hong Kong:
. senior official of the Hong Kong Government said today the the Laptain of the HUEY FONG and a refugee representative were informol at meeting on one of the Royal Navy's vessels standing by the HUEY FONG that they should proceed to Taiwan, but that matters cannot continue as they are at present. And if they decided to enter Hong Kong
The Hong waters nothing would be done to prevent them doing so. Kong Government's reversal of its earlier refusal to accept the refugees follows the onset of cold weather here, now legislation designed to aeter cther refugee ships from following to Hong Kong, and legal provision for the detention of illegal immigrants for an indefinite period. The decisions of the British and other Governments to increase their refugee intake has also played a part. The Captain of the HUDY FONG is liable to prosecution, and possible heavy penalties if he enters Hong Kong waters with a surplus of passengers. The official rays that no guarantees have been given that he will escape such proceedings. Recent legislation. also allows for the confiscation of vessels contravening harbour regulations. The Captain is now consulting the refugees, and the Government is avaiting a decision. If they choose to come in,
Dut accommodation exists for them at various places ashore. processing is expected to take place on board over a period of days.
Patricia Penn in Hong Kong.
ENDS rp/BUH IU/1055
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