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FM MANILA 180703Z JAN 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
IN
tion T
TELEGRAM NUMBER 027 OF 18 JANUARY
Mo INFO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG, ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON CANBERRA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
Jial CLE
3
(lou) MY TELNO 020: TUNG AN.
1. WE MAY NOT AFTER ALL BE OUT OF THE WOOD, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER INGLES REACTED ANGRILY TO PRESSMEN ENQUIRING ABOUT REPORTS THAT OWNERS HAD SAID TUNG AN SHOULD NOT LEAVE MANILA WITH ANY REFUGEES ON BOARD AND THAT MASTER CLAIMED SHIP TO BE UNSEAWORTHY FOR JOURNEY TO HONG KONG. INGLES IS REPUTED TO HAVE SAID THAT UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW THE DUTY OF THE MASTER AND OWNERS TO SAIL WITH UNSETTLED REFUGEES TO HONG KONG AS FIRST PORT OF CALL, WAS
QUITE CLEAR: HE IMPLIED THAT IT REMAINED PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENTS INTENTION THAT THEY SHOULD DO SO, THOUGH WITHOUT SUGGESTING ANY
NEW DEADLINE.
2. MY SWISS COLLEAGUE, WHO SPOKE TO INGLES YESTERDAY, CONFIRMS THIS. INGLES TOLD HIM THERE HAD SO FAR BEEN FIRM OFFERS TO REMOVE ONLY 200 REFUGEES FROM THE SHIP AND THAT UNLESS THINGS IMPROVED VERY QUICKLY THERE WOULD BE NO ALTERNATIVE TO SENDING IT TO HONG KONG.
BENTLEY
FILES
PS
HRGD
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
010
IPD
NEWS D
MVD
PS/LORD GORON WY ROBERTS PS/MR LUARD
Ps/pus
SIR A DUFF
MR CORYA ZZI MR WEIR
MR MURRAY.
•
COPIES
Q-<
H.K. GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH
HOME
OFFICE
LONDON
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE
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