BRS 260
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FIA F.C.0. 091620Z AUG 79 S 1550
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 187 OF 9 AUGUST
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, PEKING, TOKYO, HONG KONG.
1543
HKK 243
ра
MY TELNO 451 TO PEKING:
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON MV RUDD BANK
1337A
PLEASE INFORM UNHCR, ADDING THAT OUR EMBASSY IN PEKING
HAVE ALREADY APPROACHED THE CHINESE (PEKING TO NO. 708).- (541
2.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE REFUGEES IS SO FAR RESTRICTED TO A NOMINAL ROLL WHICH WE ARE GIVING TO UNHCR IN LONDON, WHICH SHOWS 22 FAMILY GROUPS AND 16 INDIVIDUALS. NEARLY ALL APPEAR TO BE ETHNIC VIETNAMESE, 14 MEN CLAIM A SCUTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY BACKGROUND.
3. THE BRITISH CREW OF THE RUDD BANK COULD BE ASKED TO OBTAIN FURTHER BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS AND RESETTLEMENT PREFERENCES.
HAVE UNHCR THE ABILITY TO REGISTER AND PROCESS THESE REFUGESS IF THEY WERE LANDED IN CHINA?
PARAGRAPH 40 (XVII) OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S NOTE
FOR THE GENEVA MEETING STATES THAT UNHCR QUOTE IS ADDITIONALLY READY TO MEET THE COSTS OF CARE AND MAINTENANCE FOR THOSE RESCUED (AT SEA) UNQUOTE. THIS POINT WAS CONSIDERED IN LONDON WITH UNHCR'S REPRESENTATIVE CLARENCE ON 26 AUGUST (PARAGRAPH 7 OF OUR TELNO 173, NOT TO ALL). PLEASE SEEK CONFIRMATION FROM` UNHCR THAT THE RUDD BANK'S COSTS WILL BE MET, AND LET US KNOW, (1474) FOR INFORMATION OF THE OWNERS'S WHOM THEY SHOULD CONTACT TO
HAVE THEIR EXPENDITURES REIMBURSED?
5. FOR WASHINGTON. AT THIS STAGE PLEASE MERELY INFORM STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE FACTS, POINTING OUT THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT A PORT OF CALL FOR THE RUDD BANK AND THAT HO REQUEST WAS MADE TO DISEMBARK THE REFUGEES OTHER THAN THOSE REQUIRING HOSPITAL TREATMENT,
CARRINGTON.
FILES
SEAD
PS
KK & GD
PS/LPS
URD
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
MAED
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/FUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY MR STRATTON =
MR BULLARD
MR DERGUSSON
MR FRETWEUL
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT PEOPLE
сору то:
MR.'R. BROWN SPD, D.O.T.
VICTORIA ST.
RESTRICTED