TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 30

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SWIA 2AH

28 May 1979

JA Chilcot Esq Private Secretary to the Home Secretary

Hkk 243/1

RECEIVED IN PEGISTRY NO. 51 31 MAY 1979

DESK OFFICER #IDEX

CRY

PA

Acton 1.40:

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Bear Chilcot.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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We discussed today the announcement which has been made by No. 10 about the refugees rescued on the high seas by m.v. "Sibonga".

2.

The owners of the "Sibonga" and m.v. "Roachbank" (both belonging to Bank Line, Chairman Lord Inverforth) have been in touch with us today and we have given them the text of the announcement made tonight. Captain Mossop, for the Owners, immediately asked about the Government's intentions towards the "Roachbank". He said that the ship has 293 refugees on board: 80% of them are children and most of the others are old people. The Taiwanese authorities telegraphed the Master on 26 liay to inform him that the ship was not welcome in Taiwan. It is therefore at anchor in international

waters just outside the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung. The Taiwanese authorities have provided food and water but have told the Owners' agents in Taiwan that they will only allow the ship to pass through Taiwanese ports (at which it is scheduled to pick up cargo) if the refugees remain on board. However, the ship is on time-charter to a Venezuelan company, CAVTI, which has told the Owners that they will not allow the ship to load cargo in Taiwanese ports if the refugees are still on board. Indeed, the Owners understand that CAM have already chartered another vessel to pick up "Roachbank's" cargo in Taiwanese and Japanese ports.

-1-

12. Captain Monsop,

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