TNAG-0900-FCO40-1110-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 105

GRS 129

UNCLASSIFIED

FM CANBERRA 300810Z NOV 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 660 OF 30 NOVEMBER 1979

AND TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG

HKK 243, RECEIVLO NA RESIGNTY NO. 51

3 DEC 1979

DESK OFFICER

R

INDEX

PA

Action Tuken

MIPT: FOLLOWING IS AUSTRALIAN PRESS RELEASE.

REFUGEES RESCUED BY BRITISH TANKER

1886

109

:

1. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS CONFIRMED THIS AFTERNOON THAT A BRITISH OWNED AND REGISTERED TANKER, THE ENTALINA, RESCUED 150 INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES FROM A SINKING BOAT IN THE JARVIS SEA YESTERDAY, 29 NOVEMBER.

2. THE TANKER, WHICH IS A 19600 DWT VESSEL OWNED BY SHELL, IS EN ROUTE TO DARWIN WHERE IT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON TUESDAY, 4 DECEMBER. THE TANKER SAILS REGULARLY BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND DARWIN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

3. THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RESETTLEMENT OF THE REFUGEES IS UNDER ACTIVE DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES.

4. THE REFUGEE GROUP OF 150 COMPRISES 85 MALES AND 65 FEMALES, 19 BEING YOUNG CHILDREN THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ENDS.

TEBBIT

FILES

SEAD

NEWS, D PS/ MR BLAKER

ML CORTAZZ

LORD N.G, LENNOX

SPD

HK v GD

MR MURRAY

UND

MVD

MAED

OID

COPIES TO :

HE GODDARD, HOME OFFICE MR LOVE, IMMIG & NATIONALITY

DIV:

LUNAR HOUSE

HOME OFFICE

MR BELLBY. SPD, DOT

PARLIAMENT SQUARE HOUSE

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