GRS 265
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
113
FM CANBERRA 129350Z JAN 79
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 003 OF 12 JANUARY
HRK 24/30/1
KI
RECEIVED IN REGARY RO. 51 15 JAN 1979
AND TO PRIORITY VILA, INFO ROUTINE FCO, UKMALS GENEVA AND SINGAPORE.
YOUR TELNO 001 TO VILA AND CANBERRA TELNO REFUGEES.
91
90
Action
en
FORMINDO CHINESE
15
1. AUSTRALIAN PRESS TODAY CARRIES MORE REPORTS (FROM SINGAPORE) LINKING FATIMA INTERNATIONAL OPERATION WITH HUEY FONG. REPORTS STATE BERGIN HAS DECIDED TO BUY A SHIP, SAIL IT TO HONG KONG AND
TAKE REFUGEES OFF THE HUEY FONG. AS FOR TAKING THEM TO NEW HEBRIDES QUOTE ..... DOUBTS ARE NOW REPORTED ABOUT WHETHER ANY REFUGEES TAKEN TO THE NEW HEBRIDES WILL BE ABLE TO SETTLE THERE LEGALLY UNQUOTE (SYDNEY MORNING HERLAD).
2. THE CHANGE IN BERGIN'S PLAN IS SAID TO BE BECAUSE A US VOLUNTARY AID GROUP HAVE STARTED PATROLLING FOR REFUGEES IN SOUTH
CHINA SEA USING A FORMER RAN CORVETTE NOW CALLED 'BAMBOO CROSS'.
3. DFA, WHOM WE CONSULTED, SAID AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION, SINGAPORE, HAD BEEN ASKED TO DISCOVER IF BERGIN HAD OBTAINED A
VESSEL AND WHAT FLAG IT FLEW. AUSTRALIANS ARE CONCERNED THAT IF
'BAMBOO CROSS' AND BERGIN'S VESSEL FLY AUSTRALIAN FLAG ANY REFUGEES
THEY MIGHT CARRY COULD END UP IN AUSTRALIA IF REFUSED ADMITTANCE
ELSEWHERE. DFA SUGGEST UNOFFICIALLY THAT IF NEW HEBRIDES
AUTHORITIES COULD ISSUE WIDELY-PUBLICISED STATEMENT DENYING AVAIL -ABILITY OF NEW HEBRIDES TO REFUGEES, IT WOULD HELP DETER BERGIN AND FRIENDS.
4. PRESS ALSO REPORTS INTEREST OF SOME LOCAL GRAZIERS IN PLAN
TO ESTABLISH A GEM CUTTING AND SETTING INDUSTRY USING AUSTRALIAN
GEMS AND REFUGEE LABOUR., IN NEW HEBRIDES OR ANOTHER, UNNAMED,
ISLAND.
TEBBIT
FILE S
UND
HKGD
PS/MR LUARD PS/PUS
SEAD
SIR A.DUFF
TED
MR.CORTAZZI
SAD
MR.WEIR
EID (E)
MR.MURRAY
PUSD
OLD
IPD
NEWS D
MVD
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
COPIES TO:
MR.BIRT, HO,,LUNAR HOUSE,CROYDON. MR.BURLEIGH, HO.,QUEEN ANNE'S
GATE.
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON,
RESTRICTED
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