GR 180
RESTRICTED
DESKBY FCO 111339Z
RESTRICTED
15S5
нек 243 RECEIVED SI 280 STAF NO..
13 AUG 1979
Allb
ICEM
PA
FM PEKING 111115Z AUG 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
Sea Fiss
(558
1539
15
TELEGRAM NUMBER 712 OF 11 AUGUST 79..
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, TOKYO AND UKMIS GENEVA
OUR TELNO 711: MV RUDD BANK
1. JIANG ENZHU OF WESTERN EUROPEAN DEPT. TELEPHONED FIRST SECRETARY AT 111838Z TO SAY THAT THE 120 REFUGEES ABOARD MV RUDD BANK REFUSED TO GO ASHORE IN CHINA. THE SHANGHA! AUTHORITIES WOULD RESPECT THEIR WISHES.
THE MASTER OF THE
SHIP HAD REQUESTED FOOD AND CLOTHING FOR THE REFUGEES WHICH HAD BEEN PROVIDED.
2,
JIANG WAS UNABLE TO SAY WHETHER THE REFUGEES HAD BEEN
OFFERED PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN CHINA OR TEMPORARY REFUGE WITH THE PROSPECT OF SETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE.
3.
TWO POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION OPEN TO US ARE: (1) TO PRESS THE CHINESE TO PERSUADE THE REFUGEES TO LAND AGAINST AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD BE RESETTLED ELSEWHERE. THIS WOULD PRESUMABLY REQUIRE A GUARANTEE FROM HMG THAT THOSE NOT SETTLED ELSEWHERE WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD WOULD BE ACCEPTED IN BRITAIN (AND A VISIT TO SHANGHAI BY A MEMBER OF THE EMBASSY), (11) TO ACCEPT THE REFUSAL AND WORK TOWARDS A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION WHEN THE SHIP REACHES JAPAN.
RESTRICTED
14,
}
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