ساله
UNCLASSIFIED
897
2599. 1
00 SEOUL
GRS 151
UNCLASSIFIED
DESKBY 040100Z
FM FCO 011755Z JUNE 1979
IMMEDIATE SEOUL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 55: 1 JUNE 1979.
YOUR TELNO 86: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Hkk 243/1
RECEIVED
ло
2.6.
1. THE TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DEPLORES THE MISERY INFLICTED UPON
THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM CONDEMNED BY THE
COMMUNIST REGIME WHICH EXPELLED THEM TO DRIFT THE SEAS IN
SEARCH OF REFUGE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE
OBLIGATIONS ON MASTERS OF BRITISH SHIPS, AS ON OTHERS,
TO RESCUE THOSE ON THE HIGH SEAS WHOSE LIVES ARE IN
DANGER. BUT IT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A DUTY ON COUNTRIES
TO WHICH THESE SHIPS ARE SAILING TO LET SUCH REFUGEES LAND
AT THE SHIPS' FIRST PORT OF CALL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
INTERNATIONAL CUSTOM. THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN HAVE REFUSED
TO FOLLOW THIS HUMANITARIAN POLICY DESPITE THE FACT THAT
MANY OF THE REFUGEES ARE OF CHINESE ORIGIN AND THAT MANY
OF THOSE ON BOARD ARE CHILDREN.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO THE AUTHORITIES IN
TAIWAN TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AS WE HAVE DONE TO THE REFUGEES
ON THE M V SIBONGA. THE ONLY DESIRE OF THESE REFUGEES FROM
TYRANNY IS TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE IN FREEDOM''.
CARRINGTON
FILES
FED
HKGD UND
SEAD
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
อ.ธ
IPD
NEWSD
PS/LPS
PS/MR BLAKER Ps/pus
SIR A DUFF
SIRA PARSONS MR CORMXXI
MRJO MOBERLY
MRMURRAY
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
MR MCGEE FAO ODM
MVD
AS
1
UNCLASSIFIED