Miss Bull (SEAD)
SINGKIANG
1.
HKK. 2+3/332/1
Reference
4134
西7/10
J
Thken
1. Further to my minute of today's date, I have had further news from the Home Office who have agreed that we can give the guarantee required by Singapore in respect of the refugees on board the Singkiang: this is given on the grounds that there are still a few places available within our established quota of 116.
2.
Although this is good news from the shipowner's and refugees' point of view, I am myself really sorry that we should have to knuckle under in this way without making the strongest possible protest to the Singaporeans.
3. However, if we prolong this matter now it might very well serve to encourage the Master of this vessel to ignore future distress calls in the area (a problem highlighted by the recent UNHCR/IMCO appeal).
4. I should like to try to get Hong Kong to give the required guarantee in this case, with HMG's guarantee being given to Hong Kong. This may seem an unnecessarily long way round the present problems but it will at least reduce even further the chances of any of these refugees coming here at all. And I am conscious that the time is near approaching when the Home Office, who are bending over backwards to be helpful, will soon tire of my petitions to them.
5. I should be grateful for SEAD's approval of the attached draft telegram. A copy goes to HKD for their approval.
CODE 18-77
SS 10/76
13 October 1977
CC:
Hong Kong Dept MVD
P Morgan
Room K152 Ext 8631
イゴ
%%
I David: we spoke. I apoke to
ent
but
M Sinous, SEAD. He had opposed the idea of making representations il supported the idea of representations in Singapore, stressing the fact that Hory Kong had an even greater population
problem than Singapore,
Rino