GPS. 708
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
ник
THI AKK 243/PY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNTIL
234
FM DRUNEI 250712Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 31 OF 25 JANUARY
EXENOTION 241 2
UNDER FOI 2712
d
INFO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR UKRIS GENEVA ROUTINE SINGAPORE NANTLA
GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND HANOI
BY TELNO 26 AND KUALA LUMPUR TELNO 53 TO YOU: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. COMMANDER REAR HAS TOLD ME THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS FROM BRUNEI
GOVERNMENT
ARE TO SEND REFUGEES ON THEIR WAY
AS SOON AG VESSEL 1S REPAIRED. HE TELLS ME THAT VESSEL 13 STOUT AND WELL FOUND ALTHOUGH NEEDING SOME REPAIRS TO HULL. HE AND OTHER BRITISH RDMR OFFICERS WILL ENSURE THAT BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO NOVE REFUGEES, VESSEL IS MADE CAPABLE IN ALL RESPECTS OF COMPLETING 700 MILE JOURNEY SUCCESSFULLY AND SAFELY (INCLUDING RADIO WHICH THEY ARE FITTING). REPAIRS SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN A FEW DAYS, BUT TO ALLOW ME TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU WISH REPRESENTATIONS TO BE MADE TO SULTAN ON BEHALF OF IRIG AND UNHCR, ROBERTS WILL TELL BRUNE I GOVERNMENT THAT REPAIRS ARE LIKELY TO TAKE ONE WEEK.
2. IN HEANWHILE LETTER FROM REFUGEES IN CAMP AT MUARA HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO HY OFFICE ADDRESSED TO QUOTE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH 11. AND THE GOVERNMENT OF BRUNET UNQUOTE, DESCRIBING HAZARDS OF THEIR VOYAGE, REJECTION BY SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA AND ASKING TO STAY AS QUOTE POLITICAL REFUGEES UNQUOTE. ROBERTS TELLS ME ANOTHER COPY HAS DEEN SENT TO BRUKET GOVERNMENT 30 | AL. SENDING NY COPY ON BY EAG,
3. ALTHOUGH REPAIR OF VESSEL MAY BE STRAIGHTFORWARD, MODERTS FEARS THAT TASK OF RETURNING REFUGEES TO IT FROM THER PRESENT COMFORTABLE QUARTERS IN MUARA MAY BE DIFFICULT AND MESSY. AS THEY APPEAR TO DE IDEALOGICAL REFUGEES NOT PAYING PASSENGERS THEY HAY NOT LEAVE IRUNGI WATERS AS EASILY AS TUNG AN DID.
4. MUCH AS SITUATION CALLS FOR REPRESENTATION ON HUMANITARIAN CROUS, THIS MAY HOT DR SO EASY IN PRACTICE. AS YOU KNOW, ONLY WAY TO ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE BRUNET GOVERNIENT TO CHANGE COURSE IS DIRECT APPROACH TO SULTAN. I BOUST WHETHER
WILL HEED
CNICS PUPRESENTATIONS EVEN IF STRONGLY BACKED BY H2. IT IS QUITE
CONFIDENTIAL
POSSIBLE THAT