WIKILEAKS: Số phận tàu Trường Xuân sau biến cố 30/4/1975

THE GOOD SHIP TRUONG XUAN

Date:

1975 August 20, 02:45 (Wednesday)

Canonical ID:

1975HONGK09585_b

Original Classification:

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

Current Classification:

UNCLASSIFIED

Handling Restrictions

-- N/A or Blank --

Character Count:

2447

Executive Order:

-- N/A or Blank --

Locator:

TEXT ON MICROFILM,TEXT ONLINE

TAGS:

EWWT - Economic Affairs--Waterborne Transportation | HK - Hong Kong | MASS - Military and Defense Affairs--Military Assistance and Sales | US - United States | VS - South Vietnam

Concepts:

CARGO SHIPS | CUSTOMS INSPECTIONS | TRUONG XUAN

Enclosure:

-- N/A or Blank --

Type:

TE - Telegram (cable)

Office Origin:

-- N/A or Blank --

Office Action:

ACTION PM - Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs

Archive Status:

Electronic Telegrams

From:

China Hong Kong

Markings:

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

To:

Commander in Chief US Pacific Command | Department of State | Secretary of State | Singapore Singapore | Thailand Bangkok

 

 

  1. THE "TRUONG XUAN" HAS BEEN IN HONG KONG SINCE JULY 4. HONG KONG PREVENTIVE SERVICES (CUSTOMS) ADVISED CONGEN THAT IN THE COURSE OF INSPECTING THE "TRUONG XUAN" THEY CAME UP WITH 96 BULLETS, 40 CARTRIDGE CASINGS, A DOZEN MAGAZINE CLIPS AND A PILE OF VEHICULAR JUNK. THERE WERE NO WEAPONS ABOARD THE SHIP. IN FACT, ANYTHING OF ANY VALUE THAT WAS MOVEABLE HAD BEEN REMOVED, PRESUMABLY BY FISHERMEN WHO HAD SCAVENGED THE SHIP BEFORE ITS RECOVERY. ACCORDING TO LOCAL SOURCES, A FIRM REPRESENTING THE PRG HAS SOLD THE SHIP TO LOCAL JUNK DEALERS FOR $HK 600,000 (ABOUT $120,000 US).

 

  1. THE "TRUONG XUAN" DEPARTED SAIGON AT THE END OF APRIL WITH 3744 REFUGEES ABOARD. ON MAY 3 THE SHIP, LOCATED ABOUT 100 MILES OFF SAIGON, SIGNALED IT WAS SINKING AND 3743 REFUGEES (ONE MAN DIED OF A HEART ATTACK) WERE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

PAGE 02 HONG K 09585 200323Z

TRANSFERRED TO THE CLARA MAERSK AND TAKEN TO HONG KONG. ON JULY 1 THE HONG KONG OWNED CARGO SHIP "TAILONGSHAN" FOUND THE ABANDONED SHIP AND TOWED IT FOR ABOUT 300 MILES TOWARD HONG KONG WHEN IT RECEIVED ORDERS TO ABANDON THE DERELICT BECAUSE OF "OBLIGATIONS TO THE CARGO SHIPPERS". (COMMENT: IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED HERE THAT THE OWNERS OF THE SOMALIAN REGISTERED "TAILONGSHAN" GAVE IN TO POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM THE PRG OR THE PRC. END COMMENT). THE "TRUONG XUAN" WAS SET ADRIFT ABOUT 23 MILES OFF HONG KONG HARBOR AND LOCAL TUGS RACED TO CLAIM HER. ON JULY 4 THE TUG "WILVIN" OWNED BY INTER OCEAN TOWING, SINGAPORE, AND REPRESENTED BY THE HONG KONG SHIPPING COMPANY, SIME DARBY, BROUGHT THE PRIZE INTO HONG KONG. SINCE THAT TIME SIME DARBY HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH A FIRM REPRESENTING THE PRG. INFORMED SOURCES REPORT THAT A SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED THIS WEEK IN WHICH THE "TRUONG XUAN" WAS RELEASED TO THE PRG FOR $HK 250,000 (US$50,000). THE PRG THEN SOLD THE SHIP TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR JUNK.

       CROSS

       LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

       NNN

 

Source :   https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1975HONGK09585_b.html