CONFIDENTIAL
2-
the master and representatives to come on board HMC Wasperton to meet a
40 representative of the Hong Kong Governrent. After a delay of 30 minutes the master and one refugee were brought to HMS Wasperton and the meeting commenced.
The Meeting
8.
The meeting was held in the Wardroom of HMS Wasperton, I sat at the head of the table with Cndr. Shercliffe on ry right and Mr. Yen, the interpreter, on my left. I asked the master, sui Man-yen and the refugee Ngo Thua hon to sit together facing me at the opposite end of the table. I started the meeting formally with introductions. Ngo Thua-hon said immediately that he was not a representative of the refugees and that because of conflicting views amongst the refugees it was not possible for any one person to represent ther.
9.
I
with Having noted this I proceeded, sentence by sentence,
4 Mr. Yen interpreting, to convey the procise wording of pares. 1
I then asked whether they of the message to the master and the refugee. had understood what I had said. The answer was in the affirmative.
This asked whether the master had decided to go to Kachsiung. provoked an emotional and rambling discourse from the master who said that his life was in danger, that he had picked up the refugees and had no option but to go to the nearest port quickly, that he was willing to go to Taiwan but the refugees would not agree to do so, that he was helpless, that it was the responsibility of the British Government to negotiate with the Authorities in Taiwan, and so on. He covered much of the old ground.
ile referred to the telegram that he had sent to Taiwan and concluded with the words: "If I receive no assurance I shall remain where I am. That is my last word".
10.
I concluded that there was nothing to be gained by persisting with further discussion of these points, but teck the opportunity
to remind the master that Hong Kong had not been his nearest port, that he was still in international waters and that there was no possibility of the British or Hong Kong Governments communicating or negotiating with the Authorities in Taiwan. I then proceeded to inform the master and Ngo of paras. 5 and 6 of the message. At first this had little effect and I had the impression that after 4 weeks of Government reiteration of the first port of call principle the hint of a new course being open to
I therefore the master was beyond their immediate comprehension. found it necessary through the interpreter to repeat paras. 5 and 6 twice. The master replied that he was helpless and that he was not able to decide on either choice. Ngo, the refugee, suddenly got the ressage
He immediately and started clapping his hands and became animated. started asking questions while the master becare quict and seemed to become increasingly depresse?. In answer to Ngo's questions I informed them of para. 7 of the message and the five Questions and Answers attached.
11.
+
the
After answering the questions shown on the attached App. 2 the master said: "if Taiwan refuses to accept re I must remain here; Hong Kong Government is responsible for any bloodshed on my ship."
The Hong Kong To this I replied: "the ship is in international waters.
You have been given a choice of two Government will not be responsible. courses of action. It is now for you to decide what to do, and to decide quickly".
CONFIDENTIAL