GR 605
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG 291130Z JUN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.892 OF 29 JUNE,
1240
HKK 247/1
ве
INFO PRIORITY: MANILA, JAKARTA, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE,
H.K.GOVV OFFICE LONDON, WASHINGTON, UKMIS NEW YORK,
239
1.
BIS NEW YORK, UKMIS GENEVA, PARIS, BONN, ROME, CANBER
M.I.P.T : 'SKYLUCK' : PRESS STATEMENT.
AS YOU ARE AWARE THE M.V 'SKYLUCK' HAS BEEN ANCHORED WEST OF LAMMA SINCE ITS SURREPTICIOUS ARRIVAL UNANNOUNCED IN HONG KONG EARLY ON THE MORNING OF 7TH FEBRUARY. THOSE ON EOARD HAD BEEN
THE REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND UNDER THE IMMIGRATION. ORDINANCE. VESSEL HAD BEEN IMMOBILISED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AS A PRECAUTION
ARRANGEMENTS AGAINST IT RUNNING ITSELF AGROUND UNDER ITS OWN POWER. HAD BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE THOSE ON BOARD WITH RATIONS, WATER AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND THE SHIP WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL TO OPERATE ITS AUXILIARY ENGINES TO PROVIDE POWER ETC. IN ADDITION ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO PROVIDE HOSPITAL TREATMENT WHERE THIS WAS NECESSARY,
2.
AT ABOUT 1030 THIS MORNING SOME PERSONS ON BOARD EITHER SAWED THROUGH OR SLIPPED BOTH ANCHOR CABLES, THE CABLES THEN RAN OUT AND THE VESSEL BEGAN TO DRIFT. THIS WAS AN IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION SINCE
IT PLACED THOSE ON BOARD IN CONSIDERABLE PERIL IN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THEN PREVAILING. THE SHIP ALSO POSED A POTENTIAL RISK
TO OTHER SHIPPING.
3.
IMMEDIATE STEPS WERE TAKEN BY THE ROYAL NAVY, MARINE POLICE AND BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TO COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE VESSEL. TUGS WERE SAILED TO THE AREA AND ADDITIONAL MARINE POLICE VESSELS STOOD BY THE SHIP. HOWEVER,
HOWEVER, IT DRIFTED ASHORE AT SHEK KOK TSIU ON THE NORTH-WEST CORNER OF LAMMA ISLAND BEFORE TUGS COULD REACH IT. ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST WERE MADE MORE DIFFICULT BY THOSE ON BOARD THROWING MISSILES AT THE POLICE AND THEIR LAUNCHES. SUBSEQUENTLY WHEN A TUG ARRIVED ATTEMPTS TO PASS A TOW LINE TO THE SKYLUCK IN ORDER TO ASSIST ITS REFLOATING WERE FRUSTRATED
BY THOSE ON BOARD.
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