DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
1 VICTORIA STREET LONDON SW1H OET
CONFIDENTIAL
14084
Telephone 01-215 7877
SEAD 81717 B
B/UP
B G Cartledge Esq 10 Downing Street Whitehall
SW1
From the Secretary of State
PS/P
Hi Catani
HKK 24
3/v7
17 July 1979
Dear Bryan,
INDO CHINA REFUGEES
этом мину
HUSO
TRED
Legal Adixe
Stephen Wall has sent me a copy of his letter to you of 17 July enclosing the draft of a statement which the Foreign Secretary is proposing to make on 18 July.
Unit-
The statement itself makes no reference to refugees rescued by British vessels and Lord Carrington is proposing to deal with this by way of a supplementary. We are doubtful about the wisdom of relegating this matter to a supplementary and we are not happy about the present drafting of the supplementary.
-
+
Shipowners have been placed in the most difficult situation as a result of the present situation. I understand, for example, that the cost to Lord Inverforth's company of the ROACHBANK being out of service while waiting to unload refugees at Taiwan amounted to around £7,000 per day over £200,000 in all. This was in addition to the out-goings for maintaining the refugees. There is also a possibility of claims against the shipping company from the charterers of the vessel for losses they may have incurred due to late delivery of cargo. You may be aware that Mr Patrick Wall has put down a question for written answer on 19 July about compensation to shipping companies where ships are held up for considerable periods.
contd/....
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.