TNAG-0880-FCO40-1090-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

5. WE ARE PROVIDING THE SHIP WITH FOOD, WATER AND ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES. MEDICAL OFFICERS ARE ALSO MAKING CHECKS OF THOSE ON BOARD. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY REPORTS CONDITIONS ON BOARD ARE GENERALLY GOOD AND THE VESSEL IS LESS CROWDED THAN THE

HUEY FONG.

6. WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THIS SHIP WE NOW HAVE NEARLY 14,000 PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG AWAITING ONWARD RESETTLEMENT. EXISTING ACCOMMODATION IS STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. FOR THIS REASON,

AND ALSO TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY MEDICAL, IMMIGRATION AND POLICE ENQUIRIES, THOSE ON THE SKYLUCK WILL BE KEPT ON BOARD FOR THE TIME BEING.

7. VIENTIANE PLEASE BRIEF RASANAYAGAM (UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG NOW IN VIENTIANE) ON THE CONTENTS OF THIS TELEGRAM.

FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING HANOI.

MACLEHOSE

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

FILES

UND

HK & GD

SEAD

FED

SAD

EID (E)

PUSD

OID

IPD

NEWS D MVD

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY

ROBERTS

PS/MR LUARD

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SIR A. PARSONS MR CORTAZZI

MR J.C. MOBERLY MR MURRAY

COPIES TO

HONG HONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

MR BURLEIGH

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL