Mr Simpson-Orlebar
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Reference
cc: Mr Weir
HKGD
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SEAD MVD
No Thomor
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HKK 243/1
...VED IN KEGISTRY NO. 51 10 OCT 1978
213
VIETNAMES REFUGEES IN "WELL PARK"
RE: RY
NDEX
PA
Action Ten
I
the General
He was
1. Before I had seen Mr Morgan's minute 05 October he a phone call from Mr Horace Davy, the Chairman Council of British Shipping (telephone 283 2922). most concerned about the situation and the owners of Well Park were even more concerned, because the Taiwanese had refused a
The ship second time to let the Captain land the refugees. had been refused a berth, and another ship was getting in first to discharge grain; it was anchored offshore and there were reports
All that food supplies from the shore were being interrupted. this meant that the owners were losing money. He was grateful for all the Foreign Office help but appealed for a further effort.
2. I replied that our concern was three-fold:
a. We were concerned that British owners, etc, were incurring
losses and wanted to prevent this.
b. We were deeply worried on humanitarian grounds about this
large batch of refugees which had to be cared for promptly.
c. We were anxious that British masters should not be deterred from the humanitarian act of saving "boat people" at sea
3. You discussed the problem with me last night in the light of fresh information from the American Embassy that the Taiwanese were adamant and were pleading refugee overcrowding in Taiwan. I agree with your thought that our best hope for a quick solution lies in presenting the Taiwanese (again through the Americans) with a firm assurance that all the refugees will be moved within, say, a week.
This means getting urgent Home Office approval for entry of the whole group into the UK if it cannot be processed elsewhere, air transportation ICEM and mobilising the voluntary agencies here. me posted.
preferably through
Please keep
6 October 1978
the
DF Murray
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