TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 172

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Warning of Refurce Situation

Your reference

Our reference

Date

RDI/75 13/4/17

23 May 1979

HKK2H3/1

RECEIVED MY NO. 51

24 MAY TU

DESK OFFICEK

INDEX

No

PA

J31.5

Action Tecen

In accordance with Part I of the general contingency plan for Government action in a refugee situation I am writing to warn you that the Government is facing the problem of a further influx of refugees from South Fast Asia.

You may have heard through the press that a UK registered ship, the "Sibonga", has rescued an estimated 900 refugees at sea off Vietnam. Her next port of call is Hong Kong where she is due by 24 May. Hong Kong is holding over 30,000 refugees already and the Governor has asked the UK Government, because the "Sibonga" is UK registered, to accept the refugees within a short space of time.

In addition we have heard today that a further UK registered ship, the V

Roach Bank', has rescued 293 refugees and is heading for Taiwan its next port of call. Taiwan in likely to refuse to accept the refugees unless the UK gives an assurance to remove them immediately,we are faced with the possibility of their arrival in the UK in the next week or so.

The capacity of the voluntary refugee organisations to cope with arrivals from South East Asia is already stretched but the British Council for Aid to Refugees has been asked to consider this fresh situation and to indicate what resources they and the other voluntary organisations would need to handle these numbers, over a short period of time. We suspect, however, that considerable support from Governmen is going to be necessary.

The Home Secretary is currently considering this situation and may wish to discuss it with his colleagues. This letter is to warn you of the situation. It will probably be necessary to call a meeting in the near future to discuss reception arrangements, should these be needed.

Enc

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PR BURLEIGH