GR150
PRIORITY
CHER/CAT A
FM F.C.0. 261830Z
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGATRY NO. 51 30 OCT 1978
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGERY
A
·249
Action Ten
Dec 251 +254)
TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA TEL NO 339 OF 26 OCTOBER
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG AND BANGKOK,
BANGKOK TEL NO 175 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1. WE ARE RATHER SURPRISED THAT U.N.H.C.R. VIEW (PARA 3 TELEGRAM
UNDER REFERENCE) IS THAT IF VESSEL IS UNDER FLAG OF CONVENIENCE
THE PROBLEM FALLS TO THE OWNERS' COUNTRY. WE CONSIDER THAT COUNTRY
OF REGISTRATION OF VESSEL SHOULD, FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS,-
ACCEPT A MEASURE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR REFUGEES IF COUNTRY OF
FIRST PORT OF CALL REFUSES ENTRY TO REFUGEES IN THE ABSENCE OF A
GUARANTEE.
2. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER U.N.H.C.R. HAVE BROUGHT THIS PARTICULAR
RESCUE OPERATION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LIBERIANS. WE BELEIVE
THEY SHOULD DO SO WITH A VIEW TO OBTAINING A GUARANTEE ON BEHALF
OF THIS GROUP OF REFUGEES AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, IF YOU SEE NO OBJECTION, IF YOU WOULD SPEAK ON THESE LINE TO U.N.H.C.R.
OWEN
FILES
COPIES TO:
UND
SEAD
HK & GD
MR.CORTAZZI
MR. WEIR
MR. MURRAY
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE
IN LONDON
RESTRICTED