TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 187

CONFIDENTIAL

3. THE OWNERS OF THE TOMI MARU 11 ARE SAID TO BE A COMPANY IN HONG KONG (PORT ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORTATION LTD) AND WE INTEND INVESTIGATING THEIR ACTIVITES WITHIN THE NEX 24 HOURS. BUT FROM EXPERIENCE WE KNOW HOW SLIPPERY THESE FIRMS ARE AND ANY ADDITIONAL DETERRENT ACTION SINGAPORE CAN CONTRIVE IN ORDER TO WARN OFF THE SHIP'S MASTER AND THE AGENTS MIGHT BE OF GREAT VALUE, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE UNABLE TO NAIL THE COMPANY HERE.

4. PENDING SINGAPORE'S REPORT IT WOULD SEEM PREMATURE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AN APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE EMBASSY IN LONDON AS WE SUGGESTED (AND AS VERY PROBABLY HELPED) IN THE CASE OF THE LUCKY DRACON) MY TELEGRAM TO YOU NO 321 OF 27 FEBRUARY) BUT THIS MAY

BE A USEFUL FOLLOW-UP.

FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING HANOI AND CANBERRA.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

[ALSO SENT BY BAG TO SINGAPORE, MANILA,

KUALA LUMPUR, BANGKOK, JAKARTA AND

WASHINGTON]

1

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

ROBERTS

MR BURLEIGH

PS/LORD GORONWY

HK & GD

PS

UND

SOAC

FOD

SAD

PS/PUS

ETC (3)

PUSC Отт

K'S D

FS/HR IWARD

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS

HR CORTAZZI

TAR TEAHY

MR MURRAY

2

CONFIDENTIAL

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT

HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE

CROYDON

LONDON