TNAG-1142-FCO40-1422-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 54

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DRAFT

Thank you for your letter of 6 May 1982. I fully understand and share your concern for the safety of your relatives in the South Atlantic. I hope that our efforts to achieve an early resolution of our difficulties there will be successful and that it will not be long before you are all reunited.

You mention in your letter the choice that was given to the unofficial Chinese serving in Royal Navy Ships. These men are in a completely different category to your relatives. They are not members of the crews of these ships but work for Chinese contractors and have no obligation to remain on board in the event of hostilities.

Your relatives on the other hand are Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) members who have signed agreements to serve wherever their ships may be sent. As part of this agreement the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has undertaken to pay a bonus to all members of the crew of any RFA ship entering an area of hostilities. In this case the bonus will be 1598 of their pay for any time spent within the 200 mile exclusive zone declared around the Falkland Islands. *

I hope this letter makes clear to you your relatives' conditions of employment. Please be assured that I am most concerned for the safety of all our people in the South Atlantic and that no effort will be spared to bring this unhappy situation to a speedy and just conclusion.

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any of the declared military exclusion zones. This bonus will be equivalent to 100% of

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or greater.

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