GR
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F1 CANBERRA 3864002 JUN 73
TO PRIORITY DTI
TELEGRAM NUMBER SHIP 3 OF 8 JUNE
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"HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REG.STRY NO.
IND
1 5 JUN1979
DESK OFFICER
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по
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AND TO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, UKREP BRUSSELS, UXDEL OECD PARIS.
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YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER SHIP 2 TO BONN: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. NEITHER THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION NOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT RECOLLECT AN OCCASION IN 1979, OR EARLIER, OF AN
AUSTRALIAN FLAG SHIP RESCUING REFUGEES.
2. ON QUESTION (E), THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ON 7 MAY RESPONDED AS FOLLOWS TO A JOINT LETTER ADDRESSED TO THEM LAST DECEMBER BY
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF IMCO AND HARTLING OF UNHCR REGARDING THE
RESCUE AT SEA BY FLAG SHIPS: .
QUOTE: THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ISSUED A NOTICE TO THE OWNERS AND MASTERS OF SHIPS UNDER ITS FLAG ON 24 JANUARY
1979 DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE PROVISIONS OF AUSTRALIAN LAW
WHICH IMPOSE THE PENALTY OF UP TO FOUR YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR A BREACH OF SECTIONS 265 AND 317A OF THE NAVIGATION ACT. THESE SECTIONS GIVE EFFECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS CONTAINED IN REGULATION
10 OF CHAPTER 5 OF THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA CONVENTION
1963 AND ARTICLE 12 OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION ON THE HIGH
SEAS 1958.
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT THAT EACH GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES RESCUED AT SEA BY VESSELS CARRYING ITS FLAG. IN THESE TERMS THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNISE ITS GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ACCEPT REFUGEES
FROM AUSTRALIAN FLAG CARRIERS. HOWEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE WOULD REQUIRE CONSIDERATION
BEFORE A DECISION COULD BE MADE. UNQUOTE.
A COPY OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVIGATION ACT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
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