TNAG-0877-FCO40-1087-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 68

GRS 350

UNCLASSIFIED

BACANBERRA 05868OZ JAN 79

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM. NUMBER 001 OF 05 JANUARY

INFO FCO, WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA

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YOUR TELNO 91: REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM

See 48

1. MACKELLAR'S STATEMENT OF 4 JANUARY READS:

REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM

243/1 HKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

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- 8 JAN1979

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THE MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC WFFAIRS, THE HON. M.J.R. MACKELLAR, SAID TODAY THAT CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATED THAT OFFICIALS IN VIETNAM WERE ENGAGED IN THE EXPORT OF ETHNIC CHINESE AND ETHNIC VIETNWMESE AT A PRICE.

A SYSTEM FOR BOAT DEPARTURES APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED UNDER AN ORGANISATION SET UP LAST JUNE AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS ALLEGED THAT AUTHORISED DEPARTURES NOW TOOK ONE OF TWO. LINES. ONE REQUIRED THE DEPARTEES TO ARRANGE THEIR OWN VESSELS,

AND THE OTHER INVOLVED DEPARTURE ON LARGER VESSELS SCHEDULED FROM HO CHI MINH CITY PORT, ON VESSELS FLYING SOME FLAG OF CONVENIENCE AND OBSCURE OWNERSHIP. TO GET ONTO EITHER BOAT, THE FEE APPEARED TO BE ABOUT DOLLARS US 2700 FOR ETHNIC CHINESE AND DOLLARS US 4000 FOR ETHNIC VIETNAMESE, THE MONEY APPARENTLY BEING PAID INTO STATE REVENUE.

MR MACKELLAR SAID IT SEEMED THAT COUNTRIES IN THE REGION ARE HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS OF THE PRESENT LARGE-SCALE MOVEMENT, APPEARING TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD NOT HAPPPPEN WITHOUT THE ACTIVE, POSITIVE SUPPORT OF A GOVERNMENT AGENCY,

INFORMATION SUGGESTED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FREIGHTERS LYING OFF MANILA AND HONG KONG, A THIRD VESSEL WITH PANAMANIAN REGISTRATION HAD BEEN DUE TO LEAVE HO CHI MINH CITY ON CHRISTMAS EVE WITH ABOUT 3030 ON BOARD.

THERE WAS A FURTHER SUGGESTION THAT YET ANOTHER VESSEL, LOADING BETWEEN 2500 AND 3000 PASSENGERS, WAS SCHEDULED TO SET OFF FOR DARWIN,

MR MACKELLAR SAID THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, DESPITE ITS STRONG RECORD OF HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE, COULD IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES DEAL WITH THE OWNERS OR MASTERS OF ANY SUCH SHIP ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS EXCEPT TO RE-PROVISION AT COST TO THE COMPANY CONCERNED. IT WOULD DENY ANY PASSENGERS ON SUCH SHIPS ENTRY INTO

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/AUSTRALIA