GPS 235
CONFIDENTAL
1337
_HKK 2431
CONFIDENTAL
FM HONG KONG 1103042 JUL 19
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.965 OF 11 JULY,
INFO PRIORITY SINGAPORE.
DESK
INDEX
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES CHARTERING OF SHIP BY BRITISH
CHARITABLE ORGANISATION.
1. WE HAVE HAD REPORTS OF ENQUIRIES BEING MADE ON THE LONDON
CHARTER MARKET (AND OF THESE BEING PASSED TO THE HONG KONG CHARTER MARKET) FOR A ''TWEEN-DECKER'' VESSEL OF 2-5,000 TONS DEAD WEIGHT, PREFERABLY WITH A BRITISH FLAG, TO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE SINGAPORE/HONG KONG AREA 15 25 JULY FOR A
30-DAY TIME CHARTER. THE PURPOSES ARE SAID TO BE SUCCOUR,
AID AND MEDICAL RELIEF FOR REFUGEES FOUND IN THE SOUTH CHINA
SEA. WE ASSUME THAT THE ENQUIRIES EMANATE FROM A BRITISH
CHARITABLE ORGANISATION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN OBTAIN
CONFIRMATION AND FURTHER DETAILS INCLUDING THE ORGANISERS
FROM THE BALTIC EXCHANGE.
2. YOU WILL NO DOUBT CONSIDER URGENTLY MAKING CLEAR TO THE
ORGANISERS WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE LETTING
THEMSELVES IN FOR (INCLUDING, OF COURSE, THE QUESTION OF DISPOSAL) IF THE OBJECT IS TO GATHER UP REFUGEES AT SEA AS
DISTINCT FROM GIVING AID TO THOSE ALREADY ASHORE OR MERELY
EN-ROUTE. THE TYPE OF SHIP BEING SOUGHT SUGGESTS THAT THE
FORMER IS WHAT THEY HAVE IN MIND. IN VIEW OF THE STATED
PREFERENCE FOR THE BRITISH FLAG, THEY MAY BE REGARDING THE
''SIBONGA'' AS A PRECEDENT. MACLEHOSE
see (1354)
FILES
NEWS D
SEAD
M & VD
HK & GD
PS
UND
FED
EESD
N AX D
SAD
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
PS/LPS
PS/KR HURD PS/ER BLAKER PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
KR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
ADDITIONAL DISTN
BOAT PEOPLE
CONFIDENTAL