TNAG-0887-FCO40-1097-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 7

BOAT PROPLE

ADVANCES BOAT

PS/LPS PS/MR HURD

PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

· SIR A DUFF

MR CORTAZZI

MR LEAHY

HD/UND

HD/HKGD

HD/KVD

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00 UKMIS GENEVA

00 HONGAID

GRS 315

12. MURRAY

HONG KONG GOVERNIENT OFFIC

LONDON

MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

MR BIRT HOME OFFICE

LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON

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RECEIVED A GATRY NO. 61

- 1 JUN 379

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 012843Z JUNE 79

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 794 OF 1 JUNE

See (996

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

YOUR TELNO 535: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

SIBONGA.

1. WE HAVE NOW COMPLETED FURTHER PROCESSING OF THE REFUGEES AND ESTABLISHED THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER IS 1003 OF WHOM 341 HAVE CLAIMED SOME RELATIVE ETC IN THE UNITED STATES. THE LATTER GROUP WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE U.S. AUTHORITIES UNDER THEIR PROGRAMME: THE U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL BELIEVE THAT MANY WILL PROVE

TO HAVE WEAK CLAIMS. IN FACT, ON A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION BY U.S. CONSULATE STAFF, 48 APPEAR TO HAVE GOOD CLAIMS AND A FEW OTHERS ARE BEING CUESTIONED TOMORROW BUT IT SEEMS THAT 60 AT MOST MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO U.S.

2. THE APPALLING ACCOMMODATION PROBLSEMS WHICH WE ARE FACING HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATED BY THE ARRIVAL OF A FURTHER 1,506 REFUGEES ON THE 31 MAY, MAKING A TOTAL INCLUDING THE SIBONGA OF 41,400. OF THESE 6,000 ARE STILL ON THE WATER IN THE WESTERN QUARANTINE ANCHORAGE.

3. WE ARE PUTTING IN HAND THE NECESSARY TRANSFERS FROM VARIOUS TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION TO MAKE FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE