In May 1975, shortly after the Fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, the first Vietnamese refugees arrived in Malaysia, and the first boat that arrived carried 47 refugees. Until 1978, more Vietnamese fled their country, and many of them were of Chinese descent. According to Malaysian government statistics, the country hosted 19,000 refugees in November 1978, compared to 500 in 1977. The Malaysian government responded by directing its Home Ministry to set up Federal Task Force VII in 1978, which was tasked with limiting the rising number of refugees from landing in Malaysia. The press reported incidents of Malaysian police and army personnel turning away the refugees, but some refugees resorted to deliberately sinking their boats to gain admittance to Malaysia. When the government was informed of boat-sinking attempts made by the refugees, then Deputy Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced in June 1979 that legislation would be introduced to empower the police and navy to shoot refugees attempting to land. Mahathir's superior, Prime Minister Hussein Onn quickly recanted Mahathir's shooting threat.