TNAG-0889-FCO40-1099-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 11

(1038.

HKK 243/

LIVED IN REGISTRY 10. 51

15 JUN1979

OFFICER

PA

KENSTNY Action Taker

GA 110

RESTRICTED

F11 ATHENS 081115Z JUNE

TO IMMEDIATE DTI

RESTRICTED

по знь

TELNO SHIP 6 OF 3 JUNE 79

REPEATED FOR INFO FCO

1011

YOUR TEL SHIP 2 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

1. WE HAVE APPROACHED THE MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MERCHANT MARINE FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 3. THEY WILL DO THE NECESSARY RESEARCH AND REPLY AS CUICKLY AS PRACTICABLE. BUT THIS IS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN CREECE (11 JUNE BEING ORTHODOX WHIT MONDAY) AND THEY DO NOT EXPECT TO HAVE THE INFORMATION UNTIL LATER NEXT WEEK.

2. ON (E) HOWEVER, BOTH MINISTRIES SAID THAT THE GREEK GOVERNMENT HAD MADE NO PUBLIC COMMITMENT REGARDING RECEPTION OF VIETNAMESE

SEEKING REFUGE ON GREEK SHIPS.

3. ON (D), SECRETARY GENERAL OF MINISTRY OF MERCHANT MARINE SAID THAT GREECE HAD NOT ACCEPTED REFUCEES FOR SETTLEMENT. AT LEAST CIE SHIP (UNSPECIFIED) HAD BEEN DELAYED ON A VOYAGE FROM THE FAR EAST WHILE ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO UNLOAD REFUGEES BEFORE IT RETURNED TO CREECE. NUMBERS OF REFUGEES HAD, HOWEVER, BEEN ALLOWED TO TRANSIT (ATHENS TEL 155)

MILES

SHIP DIST:

MARO

SED.

RESTRICTED