TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 66

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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ship, or to provide help to refugees without taking them on board

his vessel; (b) There are difficulties in proposing that any

measures should be adopted concerning financial compensation from

international sources for costs, losses and liabilities incurred by

shipowners as a result of their compliance with their obligation

to render assistance. However if there is no universal observance

of the obligations to render assistance, of the commitment to the

first port of call principle, or of flag states to provide a haven

of last resort then shipowners rescuing refugees could be palced

in an impossible position. In such circumstances participants may

wish to consider how compensation could be supported).

(ii) Participants could declare that for the purposes of

no distinction is to be drawn between the survivors

rescue at sea,

of shipwreck or conventional maritime disaster, and refugees who

may have left their country in unseaworthy craft.

(iii)

Participants could call on the masters of vessels of

all states not to deviate from the probable and usual

course of

their voyage except as might be necessary to carry out their

obligation to render assistance to those in distress and to take

action on consequences arising.

(iv) Participants could call on states not already parties

to the relevant international Conventions to accede to them.

(v) Participants could agree to ensure that vessels under

their control should not accept or execute charters, the essential

purpose of which is to convey refugees as illegal emigrants from

their own country.

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/Action by the UNHCR

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