TNAG-0882-FCO40-1092-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 66

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CONFIDENTIAL

機密

ANNEX C

MEASURES TAKEN TO PERSUADE THE "HUEY FONG” TO SAIL TO TAIWAN

FROM 23RD DECEMBER, 1978 TO 18TH JANUARY, 1979.

1.

2.

3.

23rd December, 1978

(a)

(b)

The Master told the C.0. of HMS Wasperton that the refugees believed that they would not be accepted in Taiwan because Taiwan was not a member of the U.N.

The APA obtained the agreement of the U.S. Consulate General to send a telegram to the U.S. Embassy Taipeh asking them for an assessment of Taiwanese policy towards boat refugees. The full text of this telegram is at Appendix 1.

24th December, 1978

(a)

The Policy Group considered the following possible courses of action in order to put pressure on the Master cf Huey Fong to sail :

(i)

Escort by one of H.M. Vessels. Besides making sure that the Huey Fong continued on its proper journey secondary objective of this would be to provide adequate life saving equipment on the escort vessel for the refugees. Although enough life jackets were assembled to supply all the refugees, it was thought unlikely, for logistical and psychological reasons, that these could be put on board the Huey Fong;

a

(ii) To offer protection in the form of naval personnel if

the Captain said that he feared for his life if forced to sail. This would have to be done with the Master's written consent;

to

(iii)A naval party/stay on board the ship and make sure

that it sailed in the right direction, whether or not requested by the Master, and

(iv) Towing the ship about fifty miles out to sea using a

civilian tug. This would have required a party on board the ship to secure the tow. The party would have been provided by the Navy.

These possible courses were submitted to the F.C.O. and, by CAPIC, to the M.O.D.

25th December, 1978

(a)

The U.S. Embassy Taipeh replied that there had been no change in the Taiwanese policy of granting temporary shelter to refugees picked up at sea by Chinese vessels or to refugees of Chinese origin picked up at sea by foreign. vessels with a port in Taiwan scheduled as the first port of call. They suggested, however, that the Taiwanese

CONFIDENTIAL **