TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 53

PRIVATE NOTICE

24 May 1979

C

Sir Paul Bryan (Howden): To ask the Lord Frivy Seal, if he will make a statement regarding the arrival of the SS Sabonga in Hong Kong with 984 Vietnamese refugees.

SIR IAN GILMOUR

The British-registered freighter MV Sibonga, owned by the Bank Line, rescued 984 refugees from two boats in distress south of Vietnam on 21 May. The Sibonga arrived outside Hong Kong, its next scheduled port

of call early this morning. The Government are urgently considering the future of the refugees in consultation

with the Hong Kong Government.