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4.
Places of first asylum have since the initial crisis
of 1979 grown more hostile to the activities of mercy ships, and increasingly reluctant to allow those rescued to
disembark. As a result of these activities, such places
have to divert scarce resources to accommodate these
refugees.
Moreover the acceptance by resettlement
countries of refugees rescued at sea, whether under 'flag
guarantee' or UNHCR programmes, tends to delay the resettlement of those refugees already waiting in the camps in Hong Kong and other parts of South East Asia.
5.
"
The "mercy ships" have in the past disembarked
refugees wherever they have been allowed to do so; so far,
none of these ships has sought entry to Hong Kong for this purpose. None of the ships has been on the UK registry.
The present case
6.
now
According to Hong Kong's report, which Manila has amplified (Manila telno 206), the West German ship "Regine" has picked up some 330 refugees. 150 have been
promised resettlement in FRG.
The French organisation
co-sponsoring the "Regine's" voyage has asked the French
government to provide guarantees for a total of 300 but we
have yet to hear the outcome. Meanwhile, since the
Singaporean authorities have refused permission for the "Regine" to disembark the refugees there, it is sailing on to the Philippines where it will seek to disembark as many
as it can.
Manila understand that the Philippines have
told the West Germans that only those already guaranteed
resettlement will be allowed to disembark.
German Embassy in Manila is seeking contingency authority
to guarantee all 330 refugees if the French do not come up
with clearance in time.
The West
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