1558
વર્ડ
GP5200
INCLASSIFIED
PY SEKING 1303302 AUG 79
TOMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 713 OF 13 AUGUST
永
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG PRIORITY WASHINGTON
TOKYO,
MY TELNO.712: MY RUDD BANK.
14 AUG 1979
REGISTRY
Action Take
',
See 1559 See (1559) 1561
1. WE SPOKE ON 12 AUGUST WITH MR DAVEY, MASTER OF THE RUDD BANK.
2.
HE WAS NOT PRIVY TO THE CONVERSATIONS WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN THE CHINESE OFFICIALS WHO CAME ON BOARD AND THE REFUGEES, BUT CONFIRMED THAT THE LATTER, MANY OF WHOM HAD FAMILIES IN THE US, CANADA AND FRANCE, DID NOT WISH TO BE LANDED IN CHANGHAI. HE HAD NO IDEA OF THE TERMS UNDER WHICH THE CHINESE HAD INVITED
THEM TO COME ASHORE.
3. DAVEY SAW NO DIFFICULTIES ABOUT KEEPING THE REFUGEES ABOARD THE RUDD BANK FOR SUCH TIME AS IT REMAINED IN CHINESE WATERS. THIS WAS LIKELY TO BE RATHER LESS THAN A MONTH. THE SHIP IS LIKELY TO LEAVE SHANGHAI ON 14 OR 15 AUGUST AND ARRIVE IN QINGDAO BY THE END OF THE WEEK. ITS NEXT PORT..OF
CALL IS NOT YET FIXED, BUT WILL BE DECIDED BY THE OWNERS. DAVEY SPECULATED THAT HE MIGHT BE INSTRUCTED TO MAKE FOR HONG KONG TO ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO DISMEBARK THERE.
4.
THE REFUGEES ARE ALL IN GOOD HEALTH AND ARE ADEQUATELY PROVIDED FOR. THE CHINESE RED CROSS HAD OFFERED FOOD AND CLOTHING, BUT THERE HAD SO FAR BEEN NO NEED TO TAKE THIS UP. GEORGE
FILES
SEAD
HK & GD
PS FS/LPS
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
HAED
EID
PUSD
OID
PS/MR HURD
FS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
LORD NG LENNOX
IPD
NEWS D MVD
MR FERGUSSON
MR FRETWELL
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT. FEOPLE