TNAG-0885-FCO40-1095-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 70

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FM HONG KONG 210949Z MAY.79

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TEL NO.610 OF 21 MAY,

!

DON.

INFO PRIORITY: UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, H.K.GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : ''SIBONGA''.'

1. THE BRITISH CAPTAIN OF THE U.K-REGISTERED ''SIBONGA'' HAS RADIOED TO SAY THAT HE HAS PICKED UP ABOUT 900 REFUGEES FROM TWO BOATS 100 MILES SOUTH OF VIETNAM. THE OWNERS ARE BANK LINE AND THE LOCAL AGENTS ARE EAST ASIATIC (CHARTERERS' AGENT) AND DODWELLS (OWNER'S AGENT). ALL ARE REPUTABLE COMPANIES. THE FIRST PORT OF CALL IS HONG KONG WITH ETA 2359 ON 23 MAY,

2.

THE CAPTAIN HAS BEEN REFUSED ENTRY PENDING AN EXAMINATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE RESCUE AND ADVISED TO ANCHOR TWO MILES SOUTH OF PO TOL ISLAND (OUT SIDE HONG KONG WATERS) AT 0900

ON 24 MAY.

3.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THIS WAS NOT A GENUINE RESCUE, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR LOCAL PRESENTATION THAT THE ''SIBONGA'' SHOULD BE STOPPED AND EXAMINED OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS, AS WE WOULD TRY TO DO WITH ANY SHIP, WHATEVER ITS FLAG, CARRYING A LARGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES.

4.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ASSURANCE THAT IF THE REFUGEES ARE LANDED HERE IT WOULD BE UNDER A GUARANTEE THAT THE U.K WOULD ACCEPT ALL

WHO ARE NOT OFFERED PLACES BY THIRD COUNTRIES.

ж

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