CONFIDENTIAL
3. WE DO NOT BELIEVE ACTION THROUGH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATION (IMCO) IS LIKELY TO BE SFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE TUNG AN FROM SAILING IN THE TIMESCALE WHICH WE FACE. HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE GREAT VALUE FOR US LOCALLY IN DEMONSTRATING THAT WE, AND H M G, HAD TAKEN EVERY POSSIBLE ACTION OPEN TO US TO PREVENT THE TUNG AN ARRIVING. GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU WOULD URGENTLY CONSIDER ADVISING IMCO OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TUNG AN AND OF THE DANGER WHICH WE BELIVE THERE IS OF THE MASTER SAILING HERE IN CONTRAVENTION OF SOLAS. SUCH A DEMARCHE WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, WE HOPE YOU WOULD NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A COMPLAINT BEING MASDE SHOULD THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT ORDER THE MASTER TO SAIL.
4. SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS FROM 20 OF THE TUNG AN REFUGEES TO SETTLE HERE. IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL TELEGRAPH FULL DETAILS TOMORROW DIRECT TO THE UNHCR OFFICE
III MANILA, COPIED TO THE EMBASSY.
5. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ALSO INSTRUCT UKMIS GENEVA
TO ASK THE UNHCR TO DEPLOY MAXIMUM EFFORT WITH THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ON THE TUNG AN ARE DEALT WITH IN
SITU.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD UND
PS
f
SMAD
FED SAD EID (E)
PUSD
OID
IPD
NSVS D NVD
MAED
PS/TORD GORONWY
ROBERTS
PS/HR LUARD
PS/FUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI
MR J C MOBERLY MR MURRAY MISS BROWN
COPIES TO
HONG HONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
· QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
*LONDON
Q
2 - CONFIDENTIAL
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