481
CONFIDENTIAL
SINGAPORE 150905Z MAR 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 109 OF 15 MARCH
HKE 943/1
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INDEX
16 MAR1979
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (FOR GOVE PRIORITY MANILA, KUALA
LUMPUR, BANGKOK,
JAKARTA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
SAVING TO WASHINGTON, HANOI, CANBERRA,
HONG KONG TEL TO FCO 372:
1. ''TOMI MARU 11
484
POSSIBLE REFUGEE SHIP ''TOMI MARU 11' ARRIVED SINGAPORE ON 7 FEBRUARY UNDER
THE JAPANESE FLAG. THE AGENTS AT THAT TIME WERE AGUILA ORIENTAL. THE VESSEL WAS IN THE EASTERN WORKING ANCHORAGE UNTIL 18 FEBRUARY WHEN SHE MOVED TO THE EASTERN SPECIAL PURPOSES ANCHORAGE. SO FAR AS WE KNOW, SHE IS STILL THERE.
2. IN VIEW OF POSSIBLE URGENCY AND ANTICIPATING THAT YOU WOULD SEE NO OBJECTION, WE ARE ALREADY INVESTIGATING FURTHER IN COLLABORATION WITH SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES. MFA SEE NO PROBLEM IN PRINCIPLE ABOUT TAKING SIMILAR ACTION TO THAT TAKEN IN ''LUCKY DRAGON'' CASE, BUT WILL REVERT TO US AFTER LOOKING INTO THE MATTER.
3.
INCIDENTALLY, WE LEARNT ON 14 MARCH FROM A SINGAPORE EXECUTIVE OF THE SINGAPORE SUBSIDIARY OF A BRITISH MARINE SAFETY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER THAT HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED EARLIER THIS WEEK BY A ''SYNDICATE' BASED IN SINGAPORE AND KUALA LUMPUR. THE SYNDICATE HAD REQUESTED 1500 TO 2000 LIFE JACKETS FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY (HE WAS UNABLE TO MEET THIS ORDER). HE WAS ALSO ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PUTTING UP SINGAPORE DOLLARS 3,030 WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED WITH A GUARANTEED 400% RETURN AFTER THREE MONTHS. WE WERE UNABLE TO EXTRACT ANY FURTHER INFORMATION FROM HIM.
FCO PSE PASS SAVING TO WASHINGTON, HANOI, CANBERRA. HENNINGS
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
SENT ALSO BY BAG TO HONG KONG)
FS/LORD GORONWY
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
ROBERTS
MR BURLEIGH.
PS/MR LUARD
FILES
HK & GD
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UND
SEAD
FED
S AF D
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