TNAG-0896-FCO40-1106-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 333

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HKK 24:3

243/1.

1516

GR 130

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FM FCO 031230Z AUG 79

TO PRIORITY LISBON

TELEGRAM NUMBER 120 OF 3 AUGUST

My Aw Bla

INFO GOVERNOR HONG KONG WASHINTON UKMIS GENEVA UKMIS NEW YORK

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1. TODAY'S DAILY TELEGRAPH REPORTS THAT THE AUTHORITIES IN

MACAU TOWED BOATS CONTAINING AT LEAST 500 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM

OUT TO SEA SHORTLY BEFORE THE TYPHOON HIT THE AREA. THE REPORTS

SAID THAT UNLESS THE BOATS HAD MANAGED TO FIND SHELTER ON THE

CHINESE COAST THE REFUGESS WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLY DROWNED,

2. CORTAZZI DREW THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR'S ATTENTION THIS

MORNING TO THIS REPORT AND ASKED IF HE COULD SAY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT MACAU, WHICH WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A VILLAGE, SIMPLY HAD NO SPACE FOR REFUGEES: BUT HE ADMITTED THAT IF THE PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES HAD KNOWN OF THE TYPHOON

COMING THEY OUGHT TO HAVE GIVEN AT LEAST TEMPORARY SHELTER,

HE WAS SEEKING INFORMATION FROM LISBON.

CARRINGTON

FILES

SEAD

PS

ITK & GD

UND

TED

EESD

N AM D

SAD

HAED

EID

PUSD

OID

IPD

PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

MR STRATTON

LORD NG LENNOX

NEWS D

MVD

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT PEOPLE

MR BULLARD

MR. FERGUSSON

MR FROTHELL

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