CONFIDENTIAL
:
HK1243/1
329
GR 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 07191OZ FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 121 OF 7 FEB
:
no jala
See 332/33
336+
357)
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, MANILA, ROUTINE WASHINGTON.
FROM MURRAY
YOUR TELNO 225: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: SKYLUCK
1. WE ARE MUCH CONCERNED AT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE INSTRUCTING SIR J MURRAY TO APPEAL
TO THE UNHCR TO RESPOND BY SPEEDING UP RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KONG.
WE ARE ALSO GIVING HM AMBASSADOR IN MANILA DISCRETION TO DO
WHAT HE CAN TO DISSUADE THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT FROM SENDING
THE TUNG AN TO HONG KONG.
2. IN ADDITION, WE SHALL BE RECOMMENDING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO TELL THE VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR HOW DEPLORABLE WE FIND THIS CONTINUATION OF ORGANISED TRAFFIC IN REFUGEES. AT THEIR MEETING
ON 23 JANUARY THE VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR CLAIMED THAT THE
VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS TRAFFIC AND
ASKED FOR EVIDENCE OF THE INVOLVEMENT. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD LET US HAVE SOON, IN A FORM SUITABLE FOR USE WITH THE VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR, ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE HUEY FONG PASSENGERS AND ANY OTHER BOAT REFUGEES ADDITIONAL TO THAT REPORTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM 185.
3. YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE CONSIDERING WHAT FURTHER ACTION MIGHT BE TAKEN TO DETER FURTHER REFUGEE SHIPS FROM GOING TO HONG KONG. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING FORWARD THE TRIAL OF THE MASTER OF THE HUEY FONG AND OF SEQUESTRATING AND SELLING THE SHIP? YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO CONSIDER A CHANGE IN THE FIRST PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE WHICH WOULD ENABLE YOU TO REFUSE
/ADMISSION
CONFIDENTIAL
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