GR 300
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 231022Z
FM HONG KONG 232942Z JUN 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 668 OF 23 JUNE
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
HITI
02012
CROSSTOP COPY
24 JUN
(72
YOUR TEL NO 469 : HONG KONG SEAMEN: PQ.
No
LGE
29/6
196927/6
1. THIS QUESTION IS AWKWARD IN THE LIGHT OF MOD REPORTS AND THE INFORMATION PASSED TO US BY THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE HONG KONG SEAMEN IN THE REAS. REFERENCES TO BRAVERY WOULD LOOK OUT ☛ PLACE IF SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF THE SEAMEN CLAIM THAT THEY WENT
TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC UNDER PROTEST.
2. WE ALSO HAVE A MORE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE PROPOSED
REPLY. UNDER HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FAMILIES RECEIVING DEATH GRATUITIES AND INSURANCE INDEMNITIES IN EXCESS OF
HONG KONG DOLLARS 20,000, OR WHO POSSESS SAVINGS IN EXCESS OF THIS AMOUNT ARE INELGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
3. AT THIS SHORT NOTICE WE WOULD NOT WISH TO INCLUDE IN THE ANSWER THE SUGGESTION THAT THE HKG MIGHT CONSIDER FURTHER ASSISTANCE
OVER AND ABOVE THE MOD ENTITLEMENT AND SUCH ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FUND.
See (14
184
85
4. THE COMPENSATION ALREADY PAID, OR FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE,
IS AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THAT UNDER THE WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE. ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD PROBABLY BE REGARDED IN
HONG KONG AS A BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY. THERE ARE ALREADY MANY NEEDY CASES WHICH FALL OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF OUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND OTHER COMPENSATION SCHEMES. ONE FURTHER ISSUE WHICH WE DO NOT WISH TO RESURRECT IS THE CONTINUING REQUEST BY FAR EAST PRISONERS OF WAR THAT THEIR SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTION FROM 1941/45 SHOULD BE RECOGNISED.
5. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND WE SUGGEST THAT THE REPLY SHOULD BE:-
CUOTE HMG WILL MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THE FAMILIES OF THESE MEN THROUGH THE PAYMENT OF DEATH GRATUITIES AND INSURANCE INDEMNITIES AS APPROPRIATE. IN ADDITION THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FUND IS AVAILABLE AS A SOURCE OF ASSISTANCE UNQUOTE.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKGD
EM UNIT
SAMO
DEFENCED
MR DONALD MR GILLMORE
COPIES
HR GOV OFFICE LONDON
CONFIDENTAL
173