TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 255

PRESIDENT DAVID POPNER ́

Telephone 01-260 2922

With HKK 243

3/1

050

CLNERAL COUNCIL OF BAITISH SHIPPING

محمد

30-32 ST. MARY AZE

LONDON, EC3A BET

The Rt. Hon. John Nott, HP., Secretary of Statc for Trade, Department of Trade,

1, Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET.

Sverting

6th June, 1979

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

I was very sorry I could not be at the meeting with you yesterday evening. But I must say I am very concerned to hear that the Goverment can give no general commitment about relieving British shipowners, Masters and crews of the presence on their ships of refugees who have been picked up in distress at sea under the legal obligation imposed by Section 6 of the Maritime Conventions Act 1911. As I have said before I can well understand the difficult decisions facing the Government in this matter, and indeed your negotiating position vis-à-vis the United Nations and other countries concerned. But the case by case approach, which I am told the Government is now adopting, means that owners, Masters and crews may be faced with having hundreds of these unfortunate people on board their ships for weeks on end. Quite frankly, as my Vice-Presiden said to you yesterday at the meeting, this situation is not acceptable to the shipping industry. The cost implications for owners, as well as the practical con- siderations, are, as you know, too serious for it to be acceptable.

I have been thinking around the problem and what I would like to suggest is a tacit understanding between HMG and the GCBS that if the country of first port of call after a UK registered ship has taken on board refugees will not take them after diplomatic representations, then HMG, by the most appropriate means open to it, will make themselves responsible for taking the refugees off the ship. I fully realise the practical difficulties that may arise in each individual case. But equally you will realise the impossible position in which owners and Masters are placed and the appalling conditions for the crew, as well as the refugees themselves if the latter are not quickly taken off the ship.

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