TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 239

GR150

PRIORITY

CHER/CAT A

FM F.C.0. 261830Z

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HKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGATRY NO. 51 30 OCT 1978

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGERY

A

·249

Action Ten

Dec 251 +254)

TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA TEL NO 339 OF 26 OCTOBER

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG AND BANGKOK,

BANGKOK TEL NO 175 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

1. WE ARE RATHER SURPRISED THAT U.N.H.C.R. VIEW (PARA 3 TELEGRAM

UNDER REFERENCE) IS THAT IF VESSEL IS UNDER FLAG OF CONVENIENCE

THE PROBLEM FALLS TO THE OWNERS' COUNTRY. WE CONSIDER THAT COUNTRY

OF REGISTRATION OF VESSEL SHOULD, FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS,-

ACCEPT A MEASURE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR REFUGEES IF COUNTRY OF

FIRST PORT OF CALL REFUSES ENTRY TO REFUGEES IN THE ABSENCE OF A

GUARANTEE.

2. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER U.N.H.C.R. HAVE BROUGHT THIS PARTICULAR

RESCUE OPERATION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LIBERIANS. WE BELEIVE

THEY SHOULD DO SO WITH A VIEW TO OBTAINING A GUARANTEE ON BEHALF

OF THIS GROUP OF REFUGEES AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, IF YOU SEE NO OBJECTION, IF YOU WOULD SPEAK ON THESE LINE TO U.N.H.C.R.

OWEN

FILES

COPIES TO:

UND

SEAD

HK & GD

MR.CORTAZZI

MR. WEIR

MR. MURRAY

HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE

IN LONDON

RESTRICTED