GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDEN MAL
275
HKK 243/1.
SINGAPORE 310745Z JAN
TO PRIORITY BRUNEI
TELNO 18 OF 31 JAN 79
AND TO PRIORITY FCO
2 FEB 1979
IN
PA
No
дыг
RE
Acti
४
NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR HERE INFORMS ME THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION HE HAS RECEIVED FROM NORWEGIAN MFA A NORWEGIAN SUPPLY SHIP, THE ''SEA FORTUNE'', OWNED BY THE SHIPPING COMPANY NR BUGGE, TONSBERG, NORWAY, HAS BEEN REQUISITIONED BY THE AUTHORITIES IN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PILOTING INTO OPEN SEA A REFUGEE SHIP WITH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON BOARD WHO ARE NOT WANTED IN BRUNEI. THE NORWEGIAN SUPPLY SHIP IS LYING TEMPORARILY IN PORT IN BRUNET WITH A CREW OF NORWEGIAN SEAMEN, AND THE PILOTING OPERATION IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE TODAY.
2. THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT IS PROTESTING AGAINST THE REQUISITIONING OF THE SUPPLY SHIP AS IT CONSIDERS THAT IT IS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW TO REQUISITION A SHIP UNDER FOREIGN (NORWEGIAN) FLAG FOR A PURPOSE AS MENTIONED ABOVE, AND AS IT IS ALSO AGAINST THE HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES MAINTAINED BY THEIR
GOVERNMENT IN A CASE LIKE THIS.
3. HE HAS ASKED THAT IN INFORMING YOU OF THIS I SHOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THIS MATTER UP WITH THE FCO.
-NENNINGS
FILES
SEAD
UNID
I & GD
WED
PS
FS/LORD GOROMIY
ROBERTS
PS/MR LUARD
FED SAD EID (E) FUSD
OID
מיד
NEWS D MVD
PS/FUS
SIR A DUTT
MR CORPAZZI
MR LEAHY MR MURRAY
COPIES TO
KONG HONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
AR BURLEIGH
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANIE'S GATE
MR BIRT
KOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
CONFIDENTAL
!