TNAG-0882-FCO40-1092-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 68

5.

6.

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that the Government did not understand why their ship had not resumed its voyage since medical facilities, food and water had been provided. The refugees said that they had not yet got in touch with Taiwan but would do so. They said that if they got a favourable response they would recommend to the others that they should sail.

27th December, 1978

No developments.

28th December, 1978

(a)

(b)

(c)

The Master of the "Huey Fong" gave to the C.O. of HMS Wasperton a copy of the message which he had sent by radio to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan. It read as follows :~

"To the Department of Foreign Affairs of ROC Taiwan,

27th December.

M/V Huey Fong report.

On our way from Bangkok to Kaohsiung we rescued about 2700 Vietnamese refugees at 200 miles off Vietnam out sea for the sake of their lives. We intend to carry them to the nearest port Hong Kong but we were pointed to stay one mile out of island Po Toi waiting for decision. According to Hong Kong Government these refugees would be accepted if ROC Government refuse them. Require POC Foreign office give us direction to reply Hong Kong Government please urgently.

Master".

The Master was forcefully told that his message totally

misrepresented the position of the Hong Kong Government as conveyed to him. He was told to send a further message pointing out his error and stating correctly the Government's position, i.e. that the refugees would not be landed in Hong Kong since it was not the ship's first port of call but that the Government would be prepared, exceptionally, to make arrangements for dealing with the 300 ethnic Vietnamese on board if this group could not be accepted under Taiwan's policy. The Master claimed that his message represented the true facts of the case and that his assessment in this sen se followed telephone conversations with representatives of the international Press.

The Master received a message from his Taiwan agents, which he gave to the C.0. of HMS Beachampton, informing him that they understood that the authorities in Taiwan had told the Hong Kong Government via the U.S. Embassy that they would not accept the refugees (No communication to this effect was in fact received).

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