PHOENIX AND CREW IN HONG KONG HARBOUR.




Initials JBC/VS/JH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE 30-TON QUAKER YACHT PHOENIX, WHICH IS BOUND FOR NORTH VIETNAM WITH A CARGO OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM HIROSHIMA HAS ARRIVED IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF THE FIRST STAGE OF HER VOYAGE.

THE PHOENIX, WHICH IS MAKING ITS SECOND TRIP TO HAIPHONG WITH MEDICAL SUPPLIES, HOPES TO PICK UP A TEAM OF AMERICAN DOCTORS AND NURSES IN HONG KONG BEFORE COMPLETING ITS JOURNEY.

THE PHOENIX IS BEING CAPTAINED BY AMERICAN PACIFIST, MR. ROBERT EATON. OTHER MEMBERS OF HER CREW ARE MR. JOHN BRAXTON, BERYL NELSON (BOTH AMERICANS) AND MISS KYOKO KODA, OF TOKYO. ALL ARE IN THEIR 20's, EXCEPT MR. BRAXTON, WHO IS 18 YEARS OLD.

THE YACHT, WHOSE CARGO IS WORTH $5,000 U.S. (SAID TO HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTED LARGELY BY AMERICAN SOURCES) HAS ALREADY BEEN TO NORTH VIETNAM ONCE THIS YEAR. SHE LEFT IN MARCH WITH AN EVEN LARGER CARGO OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES UNDER HER OWNER, EARLE REYNOLDS, WHO IS ALSO AN AMERICAN. DR. REYNOLDS IS AT PRESENT WRITING A BOOK ABOUT THAT TRIP.

THE PRESENT VOYAGE, AS THE FIRST, IS BEING MADE IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.