GPS 592
RESTRICTED
FM BRUNEI 2223377 JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 24 OF 22 JANUARY
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J251.
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INFO ROUTINE JKMD GENEVA KUALA LUMPUR STIGAPORE MANILA HO.G KONG (FOR GOVERNOR) AVO HANOI
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
See
257
See 230 (
1. 101 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES INCLUDIVS 20 CHILDREN LANDED AT SERIA, BRUNET ON 21 JANUARY AFTER BEACHING THEIR ONE HUNDRED FOOT LONG VESSEL NAMED CUNLONG 125. FIRST REPORTS INDICATE THAT THEY ARE GENUINE REFUGEES, OILY 32 OF THEM ARE ETHNIC CHINESE.
2. BRUVET SECURITY FORCES HAVE CONFINED THEM TO TENTED ACCONODATION ON SERIA BEACH WHILE ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO REFLOAT AND REPAI? THEIR VESSEL. BRITISH GURKHA BATTALION HAVE LENT TENTS AND PROVIDED SUPPLIES BUT ARE NOT OTHERWISE INVOLVED,
3. IF ROYAL BRUNET MALAY REGIMENT FAIL TO REFLOAT VE
BELIEVE BRUNET GOVERMENT MAY TRY TO ASSERT THAT REFUGEES ARE. BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD EITHER BE REMOVED BY HMS OR LOOKED AFTER BY QURKHAS (UNE POD OFFICER HAS ALREADY TRIED TO PERSUADE GURKHAS TO TAKE THEM INTO GURKHA LIES). I HAVE EXPLAINED TO COMMANDER R3MR THAT ALTHOUGH I WOULD CERTAINLY BE CHANNEL FOR REPORTS ETC TO YOU ANE UTHCR IT SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT G NOULD REGARD THESE VISTJANESE REFURCES AS DIRECT CRITISH RE- SPONSIBILITY AND THAT PRECEDENT OF EARLIER LANDINGS WOULD PROBABLY NOT APPLY. TWO PREVIOUS PARTIES WHO HAD BEEN PICKED UP AT SEA BY BRITISH REGISTERED VESSELS WERE ALREADY BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY ON - ARRIVAL IN SRVWEL, BUT THESE LATEST ARRIVALS APPEARED AT FIRST SIGHT MATTER FOR BRUNET IMIGRATION AND POLICE AUTHORITIES. JUDOVE ALSO TOLD COMMANDER 10GR NOT TO ACCEPT RESPONIBILITY WITHOUT CONSULTING ME. HE IS LIMITING PARTICIPATION IN EXERCISE TO PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL TUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.
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