TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 257

DRAFT FY 94 STATEMENT BY CCES

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

The GCPS have discussed with HMG the very

difficult position in which shipowners, Masters and

crews are being placed by following the long-established

traditions of the sea and fulfilling their legal obligati

under Section 6 of the Maritime Conventions Act 1911 by

picking up Vietnamese refugees in distress at sea.

The GCBS fully appreciate the difficulties facing the

Government in this matter and the international action

which the Government is trying to initiate.

But in

the meantime owners, Masters and crews will have the

problem of caring for hundreds of these unfortunate

people on board their vessels for several weeks.

Commercial contracts will be broken and shipping

companies' losses may run into hundreds of thousands

of pounds. The GCBS has represented these points forcibly

to Ministers and trusts that HMG will come to speedy

decisions to take the refugees off their ships.

6/6/79

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