CONFIDENTIAL
40 IT WOULD CLEARLY BE A MISTAKE TO TELL THE KOREANS NOW ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR A GUARANTEE BY THE FLAG STATE. THEY WOULD
ACCUSE ME, AND THEREFORE HMG, OF DUPLICITY. I AM FORTUNATELY UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW UP THIS QUESTION WITH THE MFA AND STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT I SHOULD NOT VOLUNTEER THIS INFORMATION.
5. IT IS HOWEVER NECESSARY TO CONSIDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN
THE EVENT OF A KOREAN-REGISTERED VESSEL GENUINELY BRINGING REFUGEES TO HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AS I SEE IT, WE COULD NOT ASK FOR A GUARANTEE BY THE ROK GOVERNMENT. AT THE VERY LEAST THEY WOULD ACCUSE US OF INCONSISTENCY, POINTING OUT THAT CORTAZZI'S STATEMENT WAS AT VARIANCE WITH OUR OWN PRACTICE IN HONG KONG: AND RELATIONS WITH THEM WOULD BE SOURED. I SEE NO ALTERNATIVE TO ACCEPTING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE A SPECIAL CASE FOR ANY KOREAN-REGISTERED SHIP. WE COULD PERHAPS PASS THIS OFF AS A SPECIAL FAVOUR IN RETURN FOR THEIR HELP OVER THE ALARIC: WE WOULD SAY NOTHING TO THE KOREANS IN ADVANCE. BUT WE AND HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO HAVE OUR LINES CLEARED IN CASE SUCH AN EVENT OCCURS.
BATES
FILES
SEAD
HK & GD
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
UND
FED
EID
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D
PS
PS/LES
PE/MR BLAKER
PS/FUS
SIR A DUFF
NR CONTAZZI
FOR MURRAY
MR STAMPTON
LORD NG LEINOX
2
CONFIDENTIAL