GRS 1159
CONFIDENTIAL.
BRUNET M104242 FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 33 OF 1 FEBRUARY
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK.
24-3/1
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA OSLO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR HONG
287
KONG (FOR GOVERNOR) ROUTINE SINGAPORE AND MANITHIS IS A COPY
INFO SAVING HANOI
No
YOUR TELNO 15: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
2 CLUSED UNTIL
UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO.27., Kedd (d)...
1. I REGRET THAT YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE WAS DELAYED BY
TELEX INTERRUPTION BUT CUN LONG HAD ALREADY LEFT BRUNEI EARLY
MORNING 31 JAN SOME HOURS BEFORE 3101002.
}
2. NORWEGIAN REGISTERED TUG SEA FORTUNE' WAS INDEED REQUISITIONED BY BRUNEI POLICE. BRIG ROBERTS CO R3MR WHOM I HAVE CONSULTED UNDER-
STOOD THAT THIS TUG HAD JUST FINISHED CHARTER FOR SHELL WHO
APPARENTLY SUGGESTED ITS USE. HE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT MASTER HAD
MADE NO OBJECTION AND APPEARED TO BE TREATING TASK AS STRAIGHT-
FORWARD CHARTER. ALTHOUGH SEA FORTUNE WAS CONNECTED BY LINE
TO CUM LONG WHO DID NOT ACTUALLY TOW LATTER WHICH LEFT UNDER OWN
POWER.
3.ROBERTS REPORTS THAT REPAIRS TO AND RE-EQUIPMENT OF CUN LONG HAD
BEEN COMPLETED BY TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY, AND THAT POLICE RE-
EMBARKED VIETNAMESE REFUGEES PEACEFULLY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. CUN
LONG LEFT UNDER COMMAND OF HER OWN CAPTAIN IN CALM SEA WITH GOOD
WEATHER FORECAST (MONSOON CONDITIONS DO NOT APPLY AT PRESENT ON
THIS COAST). ACTUAL DEPARTURE WAS DESCRIBED AS FRIENDLY AND RELAXED,
ROBERTS ALSO ASSURES ME THAT HE 13 SATISFIED REFUGEES ARE IN NO DANGR.
AND THAT VESSEL HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REFITTED TO HIGHEST STANDARDS. HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THEY WILL MAKE FOR HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL