GLS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243
RECEIVED MEGRRY NO. 51 230071979
DESK OFFICES
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY SEOUL 18013OZ
DESKRY HONG KONG 17233OZ
INDEX
FM F C 0 171318Z OCTOSER 79
PH
2
1746
TO IMMEDIATE SEOUL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 172 OF 17 OCT
INFO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA HAMILTON HONG KONG WASHINGTON MANILA
UKMIS GENEVA
RESCUE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: (MANILA TELNO 418, NOW REPEATED TO ALL) M V T G SHAUGHNESSY
0777
1. GENERAL COUNCIL OF BRITISH SHIPPING CONFIRM INFORMATION IN TUR MANILA TELNO 420, NOT TO ALL GIVES E T A AT ULSAN AS 1400 LOCAL GV 21 OCTOBER.
2. PLEASE INFORM THE KOREAN AUTHORITIES AND SAY THAT WE HOPE THEY
WILL ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO DISEMBARK INTO TEMPORARLY ASYLUM.
IF THE KORFANS ASK FOR A GUARANTEE, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT 'OU WILL
HAVE TO SEEK INSTRUCTIONS AS THE VESSEL IS NOT REGISTERED IN THE
UK.
3. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS CASE SHOULD FOLLOW 30 CLOSELY
ON THAT OF THE ALARIC, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING OVER THE POLICY BEING FOLLOWED BY HONG KONG (HONG KONG TELNO 1400 AND YOUR TELNO 216). WE ARE IN PRINCIPLE PREPARED TO LEAVE THE KOREAN STATEMENT UNCHALLENGED FOR THE MOMENT, DEALING WITH THE
MERITS OF ANY CASE WHEN IT APISES. BUT IF THE KOREANS REVERT TO IT
IN THIS CASE, AND SUBJECT TO HONG KONG'S VIEWS, YOU MIGHT CLARIFY THE POSITION AS FOLLOWS:-
See (1779
- G'S POLICY IS TO ENCOURAGE STATES TO FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLE
THAT REFUGEES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO LAND AT THE FIRST PORT OF CALL.
FUT SINCE THE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES AWAITING RESETTLEMENT AT HONG KONG (NOW OVER 65000) BEGAN TO FISE DRAMATICALLY, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY OF ARRANGING THE EARLIEST POSSILE MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES TO A RESETTLEMENT COUNTRY. 1: ALL RECENT CASES THEY HAVE ACKED THE STATE OF REĢISTRATION IF THEY WOULD ACCEPT MEFUNEES RESCUED BY THEIR VESSELS VERY SOON AFTER E-RIVAL IN HONG KONG, AND THE STATES CONCERNED HAVE AGREED.
CONFIDENTIAL
LIFA