PRIORITY
GPS 250
BHER/CAT A & BY BAG
TM F C 0 0917452
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TO PRIORITY BANGKOK TELNO 142 CF 9 MAY 1978
AND TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG
HKK
80.
243/1
RECEIVED IN REORTHY MJ. VI 10 MAY 1973
INDEX
INFO SAVING TO
KMIS GENEVA
(77)
مہمن
YOUR TELNO 205: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD MV SIBONGA
See 1924
1. WE DO NOT WISH TO GIVE THE THAIS A BLANKET GUARANTEE ON
BEHALF OF ALL REFUGEES WHO MAY BE RESCUED IN THE FUTURE BY
UK REGISTERED SHIPS. WE PREFER TO DEAL WITH EACH CASE ON ITS
MERITS AND, IN ANY CASE, PREFER AUTHORITIES OF COUNTRIES OF FIRST PORT OF CALL (FOLLOWING RESCUE OPERATIONS) TO RECEIVE
SUCH SURVIVORS WITHOUT SEEKING GUARANTEES. HOWEVER, IF SPECIF- ICALLY ASKED, YOU MAY EXPLAIN OUR GENERAL POLICY WHICH IS TO
GUARANTEE THAT ANY REFUGEES, RESCUED BY SHIPS REGISTERED IN
UK PORTS, WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE UK AFTER A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS
IF IN THAT TIME THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RESETTLED IN OTHER COUNTRIES
AND PROVIDED UNHCR AGREE TO MEET THE COST OF THEIR TRAVEL TO
THE UK,
2. PARAGRAPH 4 TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE: MASTERS OF VESSELS
ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO RESCUE ANYONE IN DISTRESS AT SEA WHEN
IT IS WITHIN THEIR POWER TO DO SO. WE HAVE REMINDED SHIPS MASTERS (THROUGH THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SHIPPING) OF
THEIR DUTIES IN THIS RESPECT, IF CAPTAIN OF THE SIBONGA
FELT HE WAS BEING PENALISED, HE SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT THIS WAS
THE RESULT OF THAI AUTHORITIES REFUSAL TO ALLOW REFUGEES TO
DISEMBARK. HAD OUR GUARANTEE ON BEHALF OF THE 'SIBONGA''
GROUP BEEN PUT TO THAIS AND HAD THE LATTER REJECTED IT THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN NO QUESTION OF HONG KONG REFUSING PERMISSION
FOR REFUGEES TO LAND THERE, IT WAS OWNER'S DECISION TO SAIL
FROM BANGKOK BEFORE OUR GUARANTEE COULD BE PUT TO THE TEST.
OWEN
FILES
}
UND
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
SEAD
PS/MR LUARD
HK & GD MVD
MR WEIR
MR MURRAY
MR FIGG
COPIES TO MR C BIRT
RESTRICTED
IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY BRANCH, HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE, CROYDON.