CONFIDENTIAL
BY BAG
CR 2/4821/75 VI
AKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 1NCY 1978
DESK OFFICER
P MORGAN ESQ
UN DEPARTMENT
INDEX
FCO
RY
PA
Action T
Un
Nolas
POSSIBILITY OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
ABOARD UK NAVAL VESSEL
HILYG
2.99
16 November 1978
Reply sent
al
The fleet auxiliary vessel, "Sir Galahad", is at present on a routine visit to Hong Kong. At present she is taking supplies to Brunei. When she returns she will then leave on 24 November for the UK via the Suez Canal without any intermediate stops. I have been asked by the local representatives of the Royal Navy whether the "Sir Galahad" would be allowed to return to Hong Kong if she were to rescue any Vietnamese refugees on her way back to the UK.
2.
As you know, the only exceptions that ve have been willing to make to the principle that refugees should be landed at the first port of call have been on humanitarian grounds. We appreciate the particular difficulties which would arise if the "Sir Galahad" were to rescue a large number of refugees. We have told the Royal Navy here that our policy would be guided by the following considerations :
(a) if any refugees were rescued, full details should immediately be radioed to us;
(b)
(c)
if there were only a few refugees rescued the ship should continue her voyage to the U K;
if the rescue of a large number of refugees took place nearer another port than Hong Kong, efforts should first be made to have the refugees landed at that port; and
CONFIDENMAL
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