TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 52

GR 395

}

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Ma

Patent-pe oft

comment

Mr. Sempom. Orlebar

M

13

メ

I do hope

We can

purone this.

FROM HONG KONG 121101Z MAR 79

TO PRIORITY F.C.O.

TELEGRAM NUMBER 356 OF 12 MARCH 1979

112.4 CORTA 22)

INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON. AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT 3/

OFFICE LONDON.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: SITREP M.V. ''SKY LUCK''

1. DURING THE MORNING OF 11 MARCH A DEMONSTRATION WAS ARRANGED

BY SOME OF THE REFUGEES ON THE MV SKY LUCK. THIS TOOK THE FORM OF

150 OF THE YOUNGER MEN AND DOYS JUMPING OVER THE SIDE TO SWIM TO

LAMMA ISLAND ABOUT HALF A MILE AWAY. 87 OF THEM WERE PICKED UP BY

POLICE LAUNCHES AND RETURNED TO THE VESSL BUT THE REMAINDER

REACHED THE ISLAND.

2. ALL BUT THREE VERE ROUNDED UP, TAKEN TO THE POLICE POST ON THE ISLAND AND RETURNED TO THE VISSEL. TWO OF THOSE TAKEN 10 THE POST

WERE CENT TO HOSPITAL SUSTERING FROM EXHAUSTION. A 15 YEAR OLD BOY MANAGED TO EVADE THE POLICC AND GLT TO KOWLOOM WHERE HE WAS

INTERVIEWED BY TVB. HE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SHIP TUMORROW AFTER

CQNUTATES. TWO OTHERS ART 111SSING.

3. THE DEMONSTRATION WAS STAGER IN AN ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE US TO

ALLOW THE ROTUGEES ASHORT.

4. THOSE ON BOARD ARE BEING DETAINED BECAUSE OF THE FXTASNE PRESSURE

ON ACCOMENDATION FOR FUPUGZES. THIS IS ACUTE. THE WUNDER OF

'

4

REUCCES FAR VIRTUM 15 15,529 AND IN THE SHOUT TERM THERE TO

GREAT DIFFICULTY IN PLOVIDING MORE MICOLODATIC ASLORE THOUGHT

SAVE SHOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN APRIL. HOWEVER CY TIMB MORE

REFUGEES VILL HATE ARENVIO (730 HAVE ARRIVED IN THE LAST THLEE

DAY2). THIS UNDIRI, KES ME MUUTCSITY OF OL JARNEIG ADUETIONAL

THLEEN OFFINO FANT VILDA COUNTRICO ANO TO 10 30 AS QUICKLY

AS POSSIBLE.

1...

A. THE EXEUNTIV 8,

COINSIL TRHEL DE CONDIGNING THE IMPLICATIONS

ان

OF A POSCIVC ConstruTS PROGRAMME FOR LAART TOWAROW BUT THIS

IS LEVITMAY ANTOWN PA SOLUTIO/ OR THE PATYASUN OF

ACCIFPERATION TO A FOOT MARANI.