CODE 18-77
$5 10/76
RESTRICTED
Reference
HKK 2+3/332/10 M. Morgan vids
RECEIVED A
0.51
(138)
Mert the drift is OK.
DESK
R:
A
Enter
тры
Taken
仰け
11%
INDEX
Miss Bull (SEAD W87)
Jo
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES RESCUED BY THE SINKIANG
1.
You will want a progress report on this case.
2. The point made in paragraph 3 of Hong Kong telegram 1019 that the Sinkiang is technically a British vessel is quite correct. I have checked this with the Shipping Policy Division of the Department of Trade who tell me that under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 ships may apply for registration in the UK or in a number of our Dependent Territories (Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Bermuda, etc.). For the purposes of the Merchant Shipping Act these ports are just another extension of the British registry and to all intents and purposes the ships so registered, which fly the Red Ensign, are British vessels.
3. It seems quite clear that any representations made to the Singaporians are unlikely to have any immediate effect. Nevertheless, I do not believe this present case should go by default and I should like permission to call in the First Secretary (Maritime) of the Singapore High Commission to make such representations: we ought also to ask our High Commissioner in Singapore to make similar representations there.
4. I have discussed this matter with the Home Office who are reluctant that HMG should give an undertaking similar to that recently given on behalf of the Strathappin refugees because at that time we had a number of places available within our established quota of 116 for Vietnamese "boat people". There are still an unspecified number of places outstanding within our quota but we have to bear in mind that we may have to accept into the UK a number of those rescued by the Strathappin who cannot be resettled anywhere else. In addition, we have told the Japanese that we would give most sympathetic consideration to applications for permanent settlement from any of those refugees recently picked up by the Golden Dolphin. It may be that a number of these will in fact wish to come here and we have to retain a few places as a contingency.
5.
The Home Office are reluctant to give an undertaking to bring to the UK, even temporarily, any of those on board the Sinkiang who have not been resettled after a period of two or three months because there is always the possibility that some of them will not be acceptable by any other country in which case we shall be stuck with them and the Home Office have no authority to accept permanently into the UK refugees in this category over and above the existing quota of 116. I have told the Home Office that we can hardly be expected in that case to ask Hong Kong to give such an undertaking if we are not ourselves prepared to give one. I have, therefore, asked them to reconsider this matter and to let me know whether in principle we can have authority to give such an undertaking if necessary. I have explained that with this knowledge I
/would
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