TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 193

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FM UKMIS GENEVA 241221Z JULY 72

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

LEGRAM NUMBER 367 OF 24 JULY 1979.

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, WASHINGTON.

HK 243

2413/1 A

SOUTH EAST ASIA REFUGEE MEETING FOLLOW-UP: RESCUE AT

ルド

22

1452

(472)

1. AS WE HAVE TOLD THE DEPARTMENT BY TELEPHONE MOUSSALI, DIRECTOR

OF CF PROTECTION AND EFFECTIVELY NO 3 IN UNHCR IS VISITING LOND ON ON 25 JULY FOR TALKS WITH IMCO ON THE PROPOSAL IN HARTLING'S

ace (1451)

AND WALDHEIM'S SUMMINGS UP FOR ORGANISING AN INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERA- TIVE EFFORT FOR RESCUE AT SEA. UNHCR ARE HOPING TO CALL A THREE OR FOUR DAY MEETING OF EXPERTS EARLY IN AUGUST TO HELP PRODUCE A REPORT FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.THEY WOULD WELCOME OUR IDEAS ON PARTICIPANTS AND APART FROM IMCO HAVE SUGGESTED US, UK, ITALY, FRANCE, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN AND PHILIPPINES. FOR EFFECTIVE RESULTS THE EXPERTS SHOULD CLEARLY BE LIMITED IN NUMBER BUT HONG KONG, NORWAY, DENMARK, GREECE AND FRG MIGHT BE ADDED. SO FAR APART FROM OURSELVES UNHCR HAVE ONLY CONSULTED LOKAN (US).

2. THE REPORT WOULD COVER BOTH QUOTE PASSIVE UNQUOTE AND QUOTE ACTIVE UNQUOTE RESCUE AT SEA. THE GROUND RULES FOR THE FORMER

SHOULD BE WELL KNOWN BUT WOULD BE WORTH RE-EMPHASISING IF ONLY TO ENCOURAGE JAPAN, TAIWAN, SINGAPORE, ETC TO ACCEPT RESCUED REFUGEES AND TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION OF QUARANTEES. ON

ACTIVE RESCUE UNHCR SEE A NEED FOR A MASTER PLAN TO AVOID

DUPLICATION AND TO DIRECT SHIPS TO APPROPRIATE AREAS. FOR THIS THE AMERICANS WOULD PRESUMABLY HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD. THOUGHT NEEDS TO DE GIVEN TO CERTAIN NEW RAMIFICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT A MERCHANT SHIP SHOULD DO IF INFORMED BY A US RECONNAISSANCE PLANE THAT THERE IS A REFUGEE BOAT JUST OVER THE HORIZON, CO-ORDINATION WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, HONG KONG'S SEARCH AND RESCUE

AUTHORITIES MAY BE NECESSARY,

(1474)

3. UNHCR HAVE DRAW! ATTENTION TO PARAGRAPH 43 (XVII) OF THEIR BACKGROUND PAPER FOR WALDHEIN'S MEETING, WHICH MEANS THAT HENCEFORTH UNHCR WILL. ACCEPT CARE AND MAL/TENANCE OF SMALL BOAT REFUGEES QUOTE ONCE THEY CLIMB THE LADDER UIUOTE. THEY RECOGNISE THAT

THIS SAVING FOR SHIPPING LINES WILL DE MINUTE COMPARED TO COSTS CAUSED BY LANDING DELAYS BUT HOPE THE EXPERTS CAN CONSIDER

PROTECTION AND INDEMILITY INSURANCE.

By

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