Miss Brown
Mr Murray
PS/Mr Hurd
PS/Lord Privy Seal
CONFIDENTIAL
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Hick.243/1
COLGATED IN REPLY NO. 51
2 0 AUG 1979
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES PICKED UP BY BRITISH SHIPS
Problem
1. The DOT have again raised with us the question of what
assurance we
can give the shipping industry in respect of
refugees picked up by British ships.
Recommendation
2.
In the light of Cabinet decisions that we should not
give a general undertaking to accept refugees rescued by
British ships, I recommend we continue to advise against giving
the shipping industry an unconditional assurance on the lines
proposed by the DOT. I submit a draft letter from PS/Lord
HK&GD were consulted over the
In view of Mr Nott's obvious
Privy Seal. SEAD agree.
terms of the draft reply.
personal interest, Mr Hurd may consider that the Secretary
of State should see.
Background and Argument
3. Mr Symes' letter of 10 August replies to Mr Gomersall's
letter of 2 August conveying FCO views on how we should respond
to pressure from the shipping industry for a government assurance
that refugees picked up by British ships should automatically
be included in the British quota. Mr Ropner, President of the
General Council of British Shipping, requested such an assurance
in his letter of 16 July to Mr Nott. The background is contained
CONFIDENTIAL
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