BACKGROUND NOTE
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) employs about 500 Hong Kong Chinese (HKC) and most of these have been serving in the South Atlantic on board 6 Landing Ships Logistics (LSLs), one Stores Support Ship and two freighting tankers. Six were killed as members of RFAS and two were killed who served as laundry men on
HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS COVENTRY. These latter 'unofficial' Chinese
are not direct employees of the Navy. Settlement for the two who were killed has been made by private insurers whom we had
indemnified for war risk.
2. HKC have not been treated ungenerously. They received 150% extra pay for service in the war zone as was the case for UK crew members. Exceptionally however they also had their pay temporarily increased to UK rates; normally their pay level is 63% of UK rates. At the same time it was agreed that their death/injury compensation should be raised to the UK level which for seamen (there are no HKC
officers) is £26,000 in the case of death. Of course they do not receive the occupational pension benefits of UK merchant seamen or Servicemen which are contributory in character. DHSS are considering whether they should receive DHSS pensions. Nothing in the suggested answers implies that they will.
3. At Annex A is a note explaining Service Widows' grants and pensions. At Annex B is an explanation of the arrangements applying to Merchant Seamen.
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4. Welfare visits have been paid to all the next of kin and advice on money and other problems is being provided.
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