CONFIDENTIAL
(111) THE RUDD BANK DIVERTED BRIEFLY TO HONG KONG TO SEEK URGENT
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR TWO SERIOUSLY ILL REFUGEES (SUFFERING, RESPECTIVELY, FROM A FRACTURED LEG AND A DUODENAL ULCER) WHO WERE TAKEN INTO HOSPITAL THERE (SEE PARA 2 OF MY 2ND TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE FOR LATEST INFORMATION) AND TO PICK UP EMERGENCY SUPPLIES OF BABY FOOD, VITAMINS, ETC. THE VESSEL NEVER ENTERED HONG KONG WATERS, AND RESUMED HER JOURNEY TO SHANGHAI, HER DECLARED DESTINATION, AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
(iv)
IN HIS CONCLUDING REMARKS IN GENEVA, THE UN SECRETARY- GENERAL CALLED FOR A REASSERTION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST
ASYLUM. CHINA CAN HELP RESTORE THE PRIMACY OF THIS PRINCIPLE
BY ALLOWING REFUGEES ON THE RUDD BANK TO LAND TEMPORARILY.
(Y) IF ASKED WHETHER HMG WILL ACCEPT ANY OF THE REFUGEES FOR
SETTLEMENT, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT WE WILL OF COURSE ACCEPT ANY WHO HAVE A CLAIM ON THE UK BY VIRTUE OF FAMILY OR OTHER CLOSE
TIES.
(VI) IF ASKED WHETHER WE SHALL AGREE TO ACCEPT ANY REFUGEES
FROM THE RUDD BANK WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT YOU CANNOT GIVE SUCH AN UNDERTAKING BUT ARE WILLING TO SEEK FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS.
(VII) IF ASKED WHY THE REFUGEES DID NOT DISEMBARK IN HONG KONG,
YOU MAY SAY THAT THE MASTER DID NOT REQUEST THIS, AND THAT HE WISHED TO CONTINUE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO HIS SCHEDULED
DESTINATION IN CHINA.
2
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.