214
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TO ROUTINE VILA
FM CANBERRA 2007902 FEB
TELEGRAM NUMBER 4 OF 20 FEBRUARY
INFO FCO, SINGAPORE.
.N.T.
HKK 243/1 TOP
INDEX
21508
PA
M.
23.2
YOUR TELNO 91% INDO CHINESE REFUGEES AND NEW HEBRIDES
1. DFA ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AAP/REUTER REPORTS OVER
WEEKEND FROM SINGAPORE THAT BERGIN OF FATIMA INTERNATIONAL
IS ABOUT TO COMMENCE HIS RESCUE OF REFUGEES AND TAKE THEM
TO NEW HEBRIDES. HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE ACQUIRED AN
1100 TONNE FREIGHTER NAMED TUNG NI TO BE RENAMED STELLA MARIS.
2. PRESS REPORTS BERGİN SAYING THAT
QUOTE CHIEF
JIMMY STEVENS, WHO CONTROLS ONE OF THE ISLAND GROUPS,
HAS SAID HE WOULD WELCOME THE REFUGEES UNQUOTE.
QUOTE THE NEW HEBRIDES WILL BECOME INDEPENDENT NEXT
YEAR ANYWAY AND IF HE SAYS THEY CAN GO
I DON'T SEE WHY THEY CAN'T BE TAKEN THERE. I HOPE LONDON WILL
LIFT THE VETO. UNQUOTE.
3,
DFA ARE RELUCTANT TO INSTRUCT THEIR HIGH COMMISSION.
IN SINGAPORE TO SPEAK TO BERGIN IN CASE THEY ARE
ACCUSED OF HARASSMENT AND HAVE SUGGESTED A WELL-PUBLICISED
REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY AS IN TUR. THEY ARE CLEARLY
WORRIED THAT ANY REFUGEES BOUND FOR
REFUSED ADMISSION WILL END UP HERE.
NEW HEBRIDES BUT
TEBBIT
FILES
COPIES TO
(404
51
HK & GD
PS
UND
1
· SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PS/LORD GORONWY
HONG HONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
HOME OFFICE
ROBERTS
MR BURLEIGH
PS/MR LUARD
PS/FUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR.CORTAZZI
MR. LEAHY
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
NR BIRT
PUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D HVD SPD
MR. MURRAY
RESTRICTED
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDOW
LONDON
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