Mr Murray
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243/1
HKK 245
1525
Мо рабора
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
MV RUDDBANK:
1.
Sir M MacLehose telephoned me at home this morning about the refugees picked up by the MV RUDDBANK, and the 2 telegrams sent to him last night on that subject (copies attached).
2. The Governor said that we, and to some extent the Hong Kong Government had been labouring under a misunderstanding. The fact was that the RUDDBANK's master had not requested permission to land the refugees in Hong Kong. All he had asked for was medical assistance, and this had been provided. A medical team had been sent to the ship immediately on its arrival early this morning (Hong Kong time). As a result 2 children had been removed to hospital, a boy with a duodenal ulcer and a girl with a fractured thigh; neither had relatives on board.
3.
The Governor added that he had considered whether there would nevertheless be advantage in allowing the refugees to Land in Hong Kong. He had concluded that there would not. Since Hong Kong had not been the RUDDBANK's first port of call or nearest port of refuge, a decision to allow its refugees to land would create a very undesirable precedent. Moreover, the RUDDBANK was a large and modern ship with an ample crew. The presence of a hundred or so refugees on board ought not to create any problems. He had accordingly authorised a public statement to the effect that the master of the RUDDBANK had not asked to enter Hong Kong or Land the refugees he had picked up. He had merely requested medical assistance which had been provided, together with food and water.
4.
Sir M MacLehose said that the master of the RUDDBANK had now informed the Bank Line that he proposed to sail for Shanghai. Unless instructed to the contrary he intended to do so between 1900 and 2000 (Hong Kong time) today, ie around midday London time.
532
7 August 1979
CC
Mr Cortazzi SEAD FED
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
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