PS/Lord Privy Seal
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 2430
PA
RECEIVED IN REGISSEY NO. 51
4 JUN 1970
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
F:
по
88.6
ما
PX
905
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. The Chinese Ambassador paid his initial call on Mr Blaker at noon today. A full record of conversation will circulate later.
2. Mr Blaker raised the question of Vietnamese refugees and asked the Ambassador if he had any news about those on the British registered ship the Norse Viking. Mr Blaker said that according to our latest information the Chinese authorities in Guangdong Province had refused to allow the 40 Vietnamese on board the Norse Viking to disembark at Whampoa. The Ambassador said that he had reported the Lord Privy Seal's representations and would inform his Government that Mr Blaker had followed up the matter. The Ambassador said that he had as yet received no reply.
3. Meanwhile we are waiting for news of the results of American representations to the Taiwanese authorities about the 290 Vietnamese refugees on board MV Roachbank. But in both the Roachbank and Norse Viking cases it seems unlikely that our pressure on the Taiwanese and Chinese authorities respectively will meet with
success.
4. As Mr Blaker understands it, the Secretary of State and Lord Privy Seal may decide without further reference to Cabinet, but consulting the Prime Minister, on the timing of a public announcement that we are willing to accept for settlement in this country the refugees on MV Roachbank. In Mr Blaker's view we should avoid taking two bites at the cherry. We should announce a decision to accept
the 40 refugees on Norse Viking at the same time as we announce acceptance of those on Roachbank. In this way we might avoid hitting the headlines twice.
5. Mr Blaker is also concerned about the position of British shipping lines. Lord Inverforth, Chairman of Bank Line, has already written to the Prime Minister about the heavy losses being incurred by Bank Line as a result of his ships standing idle while arrange- ments for the refugees are worked out. I understand from Mr Murray that Lord Inverforth, Mr Shovelton (Director General of the General Council of British Shipping) and Mr Adrian Swire (Vice-President) are calling on the Secretary of State for Trade on Tuesday morning to express their serious concern. Whatever the legal position, Mr Blaker takes the view that there will be pressure on HMG to reimburse ship owners for at least part of their costs. The Sibonga is waiting in Hong Kong waters because the Hong Kong authorities will not allow the refugees to land until firm arrangements have been made for their transport to the United Kingdom. In Mr Blaker's view this means that the arrangements for the reception of the Sibonga refugees here, and later for those from Roachbank and Norse Viking should be put in hand as urgently as possible. I note from
/Mr McLaren's
CONFIDENTIAL
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