Rory
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
With HKK 243
1048) 1048
DSR 11
DRAFT PRESS STATEMENT
To:-
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MV ROACHBANK
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
Draft Statement
The Government have decided on humanitarian grounds that
they will accept responsibility for any of the 293 refuge..
on board the mv ROACHBANK who cannot be resettled in Taiwan
or elsewhere. They trust that the Taiwanese authorities
will now allow the refugees to land.
Notes for Supplementaries
Q. Does the British Government continue to endorse the
obligations on Masters of British ships to rescue Sh
on the high seas whose lives are in danger?
A.
Yes.
Q.
A.
Does this mean that the Government are reaffirming the
previous Government's pledge to accept responsibility
for such refugees where necessary?
The Government will abide by its obligations under
international law.
Individual cases will be
considered on their merits.