24.
25.
26.
27.
CONFIDENTIAL
15th January, 1979
(a)
(b)
(c)
A pregnant woman and her 17 month old son were evacuated to hospital.
The temperature fell to 10°With rain and strong winds. This gave rise to considerable public and media interest in conditions on board.
1 tons of warm clothing collected by voluntary organisations were airlifted to the ship.
16th January, 1979
(a) Modical supplies were delivered to the ship.
(b)
(c)
A mother and her 2 year old son were returned to the ship from hospital.
The local representative of UNHCR met representatives of the refugees on board the RN patrol craft. He was given a further written appeal to the Hong Kong Covernment.
(2) The weather improved.
17th January, 1979
(a) Rations for 5 days were delivered to the ship.
(b) 2 men and 2 boys were transferred to hospital.
(c)
A letter signed by the Secretary for Security was delivered to the "Huey Fong's master. This letter reaffirmed the Government's position, told the Master that having been provisioned for a further five days he could not expect to be further provisioned and instructed him to procced to Kaohsiung.
18th January, 1979
(a)
The Master and a refugee were called on board HMS Wasparton for a meeting with the Deputy Secretary for Security. They were told that the Government was not prepared to go on reprovisioning the ship. The Master was told that if he decided to enter Hong Kong he would not be physically prevented from doing so. He was asked to consider what course he wished to follow and to inform the Government of his intention by radio. This meeting is described in full in Annex D.
(b) All Naval and Police vessels were with rawn from the
immediate vicinity of the Huey Fong, but the ship was kept under obscrvation from a distance.
(c)
The weather deteriorated with strong winds offshore and temperatures of 10°c.
CONFIDENTIAL
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