GRS 200
UNCLASSIFIED
FM CANBERRA 118310Z JAN 79
ΤΟ
ORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 13 OF 11 JANUARY
AND INFO VILA, HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE
INDO CHINA REFUGEES
''
See @
HKK 243/1
RADLIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
12 JAN1979
DESK OF INDEX
No
PA
Aralı
REG
TRY
en
Action
CLE
1. AUSTRALIAN PRESS HAS CARRIED REPORTS (COPTES BY BAG) ABOUT A PLAN TO RESCUE BOAT PEOPLE AND RESETTLE THEM ON SANTO IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. REPORTS QUOTE A ROBERT BERGIN OF FATIMA INTERNATIONAL, A CATHOLIC LAY ORGANISATION BASED IN BRISBANE, AS SAYING JIMMY STEPHENS RULING CHIEF OF THE NA CRIAMEL (SIC) GROUP OF ISLANDS' HAD AGREED TO TAKE ALL THE REFUGEES THAT WE CAN LAND THERE'. ONE REPORT, DATELINED SYDNEY, CONTINUES: ''ACCORDING TO MR BERGIN, THE 16 ISLANDS IN THE NA CRIAMEL GROUP WERE **
'MORE OR LESS SELF-GOVERNING AND DID NOT ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY OF THE CONDOMINIUM GOVERNMENT OF THE NEW
HEBRIDES''.
2. REPORTS ALSO MENTION INVOLVEMENT OF A FORMER BRITISH MERCHANT
A US BASED PROTESTANT NAVY OFFICER, CAPTAIN STANLEY MARTIN:
GROUP; FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY: AN UN-NAMED US THIRD PARTY AND A US. LAWYER RESIDENT IN NEW HEBRIDES, MR TOM ECK.
3. IN RADIO AND, TV INTERVIEWS, BERGIN HAD SAID RESCUE OPERATIONS, (USING A 1050 TONNE HOSPITAL SHIP'') COULD START WITHIN THREE WEEKS AND INVOLVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
REFUGEES.
4. IMMIGRATION MINISTER MACKELLAR ISSUED A STATEMENT ON 3 JANUARY DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE SUCH CHARITABLE GROUPS FROM ORGANISING RESCUES AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HAS WARNED THAT SUCH HUMAN CARGOES WOULD BE UNWELCOME IN AUSTRALIA.
TEBBIT ·
FILE S:
UND
UND ODM
SFD
HK & G D
SEAD
HED
SAD
EID.
FUSD
C1D
JPD
NEWS D
MVD
PS/MR.LUARD PS/PUS SIR A, DURE MR.CORTAZZI MR.VEIR MR.HURRAY
PS
PS/LORD CORONWY ROBERTS
COPIES TO:
MR.BIRT, HO.,LUNAR HOUSE, CROYDON. HR.BURIMIGH, HO.,QUEEN ANNE'S
GATE.
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON.
PA
90,
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