TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 264

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E.

C

The Executive Committee,

Having recalled the obligation of chips to rescue persons in distress at sea, a practice established by customary international law and embodied in international agreements, and having recognized that while large numbers of refugees had been so rescued, some ships had continued to refuse to rescue those in distress on the high

seas;

(a) Commended the High Commissioner for his efforts on behalf of refugees

at sea;

(b) Further commended the masters and owners of ships who have acted in

accordance with the humane traditions of the maritime community and the States that have offered temporary or permanent asylum to refugees; rescued at sea;

(c) Called on all States to instruct ships flying their flags to rescue

refugees in distress at sea and on all coastal States to provide at least temporary asylum to refugees coming to their shores as a port of first call, or otherwise in grave jeopardy;

(d) Called on the international community to co-operate with the High ·

Commissioner in this regard, and to support his continuing efforts to obtain resettlement assurances that would facilitate disembarkation;

Recommended that the High Commissioner inform the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization of ships that disregard distress signals at sea, so that such information can be brought to the attention of countries of ownership or registration;

(e)

(f) Called upon all States to apply special and accelerated procedures for

the examination of requests for permanent asylum and resettlement of those refugees who are rescued at sea by ships flying flags other than

their own.

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