GF 323
CONFIDENTIAL
機密
(b)
meeting was to question the Master without the need to caution him on the circumstances concerning the alleged rescue of the refugees.
Following the meetings a reply to the letter referred to in para. 21(b) above was handed to the Master. This letter urged the vessel to proceed to Kachsiung. The full text is at Appendix 5.
14th January, 1979
23.
No developments.
24.
25.
26.
15th January, 1979
The local representative of the UNHCR passed the biographic details obtained from the refugees to the representatives in Hong Kong of potential resettlement countries, and obtained assurances that these countries would be prepared to make resettlement arrangements from Taiwan through whatever machinery the UNHCR used.
16th January, 1979
(a)
(b)
In a telegram to the FCO, the Government asked if, in the context of the final push which would be made to persuade the "Huey Fong" to go to Taiwan, the UNHCR could be asked to authorise one of their officials to go to Taiwan if the ship was allowed to land its refugees there.
He
The local representative of thc UNHCR again met representatives of the refugees on board EMS Monkton. was given a further letter for the Hong Kong Government which said that they had received a telegram from the Foreign Ministry in Taiwan indicating that they would not be given temporary shelter there. They asked to be allowed to land or, failing that for resettlement countries to be allowed to pick up refugees directly from the ship.
17th January, 1979
(a)
(b)
The UNHCR replied to the message referred to in para. 25(a) above that their policy was to have no direct dealings with Taiwan. They said that if the ship did reach Taiwan they would be able to cope by using voluntary organisations there as agents.
A letter signed by the Secretary for Security was delivered to the ship in reply to that referred to in para. 25 (b) above. This letter told the refugees' representatives that they could not expect to be further reprovisioned, and that they should proceed to Kaohsiung. A copy is at Appendix 6.
CONFIDENTIAL
機密
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.