TNAG-0791-FCO40-995-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 158

HOFO 024/23

PP HANOI

PP CANBERRA

+

HKK 243

RACVLO IN REGISTRY NO. 51

2 8 MAR 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

HY

ADVANCE COPY

Mnr Cortazgo

Hos SEAD

33

PP F CO

GR 125

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 230951Z

CONFIDENTIAL

PA

Action Talen

No 2528

TO PRIORITY HANOI TELNO 43 OF 23 MARCH 1978

INFO PRIORITY CANBERRA, F C 0.

32

HKY

101

MVD

UND

Files

MY TELNO 39 (NOW REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO CANBERRA) #

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION HERE THAT THE

VIETNAMESE FISHING BOAT REFERRED TO IN REF TEL PARA 2 HAS NOW

BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE AUSTRALIANS AND IS EXPECTED TO REACH

DARWIN ON 23 MARCH. WE UNDERSTAND THE AUSTRALIANS HAVE NOT YET

DECIDED HOW TO HANDLE THE CASE.

2. PUBLICITY IN AUSTRALIA ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP WILL NO DOUBT AFFECT THE VIETNAMESE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ACCEPTING BACK THE FOUR CREW MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE. GRATEFUL IF CANBERRA WOULD THEREFORE PLEASE CONFIRM ARRIVAL AND ASK THE AUSTRALIANS IF THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM MEMBERS OF THE CREW TALLIES WITH THE STORY WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN (DETAILS ALREADY PASSED TO THE AUSTRALIAN

COMMISSION).

MACLEHOSE

NNNN