RESTRICTED
Mr Murray
Mup
31/5
HKK 2431
RECOV
JPY NO. $1
31 MAY 1970
DESK OFFICER
NIDEX
PA
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:
по
SIBONGA AND ROACHBANK
J31.5
816
-
--
1. I received a telephone call this morning from Captain Mossop of the Bank Line, with whom we and you have been in touch previously. After I had confirmed that the Government's position had not changed since yesterday, Captain Mossop said that his company were now extremely concerned about the situation. Both the Sibonga and the Roachbank were idle and were costing the Bank Line about £7,000 a day each in lost earnings. The companies to which the ships were on time charter had been obliged to find additional tonnage for their cargoes and were looking to the Bank Line for compensation. Moreover, the maintenance of the refugees was proving expensive. The Bank Line had already paid out HK$95,000 (about £9,500) for food and water for those on board the Sibonga. The Bank Line felt strongly that they should not have to bear these losses and expenses: the Government should compensate them.
2. As regards the Sibonga, Captain Mossop said that his inform- ation was that the Hong Kong Government would not allow the refugees to land until firm arrangements had been made for their departure. I said we had no information about this, but the Bank Line would be aware of the acute accommodation problems in Hong Kong.
3. Finally, Captain Mossop said that the Bank Line had not wished to make difficulties for the Government and had deliberately avoided giving the press anything other than the minimum factual information. They had not, for example, put any figure on the losses they were sustaining. But they might not be able to maintain this attitude if the present situation continued. response to all this, I said that as Captain Mossop would be aware from the press, the decisions in this matter were being taken by Ministers at a very senior level. I could only suggest that the Bank Line should approach Ministers through their Chairman, Lord Inverforth.
4. I am looking into the problem over the Sibonga refugees mentioned by Captain Mossop.
In
30 May 1979
Cc:
PS
PS/Lord Privy Seal
Mr Cortazzi
UND
R JT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
PS/Mr Blaker
PS/PUS
SEAD
FED
RESTRICTED
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