TNAG-0880-FCO40-1090-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 17

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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

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MEDIAL

The Ian Hamill

FM HONG KONG 098900Z FEB 79

TO IMMEDIATE F C C

TELEGRAM NUMBER 240 OF 9 FEBRUARY

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

158 218-6714

1. THE ARRIVAL OF THE MV SKY LUCK (MY TELMO 225) HAS EMPHASISED THE EASE WITH WHICH A SHIP CAN ENTER HONG KONG.

2. WE CLEARLY CANNOT EXPECT REFUGEE SHIPS IN FUTURE TO GIVE PRIOR NOTICE OF THEIR ARRIVAL (AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE MV HUEY FONG). THE ABSENCE OF INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THE PASSAGE OF SUCH SHIPS FROM VIETNAM MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR A CLOSE WATCH ON THE SEA APPROACHES TO HONG KONG.

3. WE THEREFORE WISH TO STRENGTHEN SEA AND AIR SURVEILLANCE IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS TO THE SOUTH OF HONG KONG. THIS INVOLVES PATROLS BY THE RN REQUIRING THE DIRECT IDENTIFICATION OF ANY VESSELS ENCOUNTERED. AIR RECONNAISSANCE BY THE RHKAAF HAS ALREADY PROVED ITS USEFULNESS, THE RHKAAF ISLANDER CAN CARRY OUT LONG DISTANCE AIR SEARCHES OF SEA AREAS UP TO 250 MILES FROM HONG KONG. IT HAS BEEN USED IN THIS ROLE EXTENSIVELY SINCE MID-DECEMBER: BUT ABOUT 5TH MARCH IT IS DUE FOR A COMPULSORY MAINTENANCE