GRS 150
UNCLASSIFIED
DESK BY 300O3OZ (SINGAPORE)
ESKEY 300700Z) (THE HAGUE)
FM F C 0 292O2OZ MAY 79-
791
HKK 243100
RECEIVED IN SECGARY NO. 51
31 MAY 1979
TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 120 OF 29 MAY.
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON HONGKONG THE HAGUE (S OF S)į.
RY
IN
INDEX
619) (599
По
MY TWO IPT'S: INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES.
PA
J21.5
Acton Mi
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF STATEMENT ISSUED BY FCO NEWS DEPARTMENT THIS EVENING (29 MAY).
BEGINS
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DEPLORES THE MISERY INFLICTED UPON THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM CONDEMNED BY THE COMMUNIST REGIME WHICH EXPELLED THEM TO DRIFT THE SEAS IN SEARCH OF REFUGE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE OBLIGATIONS ON MASTERS OF BRITISH SHIPS, AS ON OTHERS, TO RESCUE THOSE ON THE HIGH SEAS WHOSE LIVES ARE IN DANGER. BUT IT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A DUTY ON COUNTRIES TO WHICH THESE SHIPS ARE SAILING TO LET SUCH REFUGEES LAND AT THE SHIPS' FIRST PORT OF CALL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL CUSTOM. THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN HAVE REFUSED TO FOLLOW THIS HUMAN- ITARIAN POLICY DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE REFUGEES ARE OF CHINESE ORIGIN AND THAT MANY OF THOSE ON BOARD ARE CHILDREN.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO THE AUTHORITIES IN TAIWAN TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AS WE HAVE DONE TO THE REFUGEES ON THE M.V. SIBONGA. THE ONLY DESIRE OF THESE REFUGEES FROM TYRANNY IS TO FIND A PLACE
TO LIVE IN FREEDOM.
ENDS
CARRINGTON
FILES
HK & GD
PS
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS
MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON
MR V MCGEE FAO ODM
LONDON
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