CONFIDENTIAL
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accept the charter would put their cheap flight arrangements in jeopardy. It is difficult to insist that they do unless we want to lose their goodwill as we have done that of the ship owners. They see their difficulties stretching to the end of next week and beyond. Their vessel has been off Kaohsiung since the morning of 25 May 27 days at a cost to them of a minimum of £189,000 (£7,000 per day) of which £10,500 is for food for the refugees. They are frustrated and in despair. They are also furious at the lack of any apparent ability to stop their losses mounting further or to reimburse them. The immediate problem could probably be solved within a few days by our agreeing to pay half the charter cost but I have no authority to offer this nor far as I am aware are funds available. The Loss of goodwill to ourselves and the Government is something again.
as
5. Alternative solutions which suggest themselves are to arrange with the Japanese or Singaporeans for temporary landing while the ship steams there (Hong Kong does not want to know)
to order the RAF to send aircraft to Hong Kong. would probably be the easiest solution.
or
6.
am submitting separately a reply to Seoul.
The latter
20 June 1979
CC:
PS
PS/Lord Privy Seal
PS/Mr
Hurd
PS/Mr Blaker
PS/PUS
Sir A Duff
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Murray
CC Hayward
FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT (K251)
233 5528
Mr Samuel
Mr McLaren, HKGD
Mr Simpson Orlebar, UND
News Dept
Mr Head
> Home Office
Mr Burleigh) Queen Anne's Gate
Mr V McGee, Overseas Development Administration Mr Murray Graham (DOT Shipping Policy Division)
CONFIDENTIAL
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