Flags, Speeches, Greet

Home - Going Viets

The first contingent of New Caledonia’s Vietnamese received a official welcome when they arrived “home” in North (Com list) Vietnam in January. They had left Noumea in late Decem-

EIR ship, the Eastern Queen, vas greeted in the port of laiphong by the Prime Minister orth Vietnam, and other senior hers of the Government. Re ; received in Noumea said the ts of the wharf area when the 2m Queen arrived were gged and a huge crowd saw 568 repatriates come ashore, ere was a procession to the centre, where there was an al reception for the repatriates, ere were some tearful family ions, which were broadcast by Morth Vietnam radio, my Viets picked up the broad in New Caledonia and New ides. This helped to brighten morale of the remaining Viet 3se in the Islands, who had not very sure of the welcome ting them. >st of the repatriates have never “home”. They were born in Islands. lile the Viets were going re in North Vietnam, details being finalised for a second nent from Noumea, ere wasn’t long to wait, oking considerably less im

maculate than when she first arrived in Noumea in December, the Eastern Queen, which is a British liner under charter, glided back into Noumea harbour on January 28. The following day the second contingent started to embark. All

538 were aboard by 11 a.m., and out the ship went on her second journey to Haiphong.

The crowd on the wharf, estimated at 4,000, was one of the biggest ever seen on Noumea’s wharf. All races were present, but Viets were in the majority.

"You'll Be Sorry!"

Some of the crowd came to gloat, and to shout “You’ll be sorry!”, but most came to wish the Viets bon voyage.

This departure was more gay than the first one, probably because of the heartening news of the earlier official reception at the other end.

Youth again dominated in the contingent, and a very big pro portion of them were tradesmen.

(Continued on p. 142)

[?] en the British vessel "Eastern Queen", under charter, left Noumea in January with the [?] ond contingent of Vietnamese to go to Communist Vietnam, there were 4,000 people to [?] the ship off. It was one of the biggest wharf crowds ever in Noumea. The pretty lass at right was one of the passengers, headed for a home she had never seen.

Photos: Fred Dunn

Before the departure there was a run on local shops as the Viets bought up wood-working tools to take with them.

PlM’s Noumea’s correspondent, Fred Dunn, said that despite a wide search he had not been able to find any Viets in Noumea who had

received first hand news of tl reception from members of the fir contingent. He said presumab there was a censorship operating North Vietnam.

Took It With Them

Few of the outgoing Viets availi themselves of local bank faciliti to transfer their capital to th( new country. They took it wi: them in goods, or else handed to members of the Vietnamese del gation, some of whom are a companying these voyages.

There is to be a third voyage the Eastern Queen in early Marc and then the ship will make t) trips from the New Hebrides, o: from Vila and one from Sam These will take the first Viets frc New Hebrides.

It is expected that after the N< Hebrides trips the programme vi be reviewed. Some people in N< Caledonia believe that by this tii some Viets still on the waiting 1 may have changed their min about being repatriated, depend! on what reports, if any, that th get from their friends.

Meanwhile one immediate resi of the departure of the t contingents of more than 1,0 from Noumea, has been a lifti of pressure on school accommod tion. One report says that soi class rooms planned to be built v. now no longer be required for tl year.

Presumably, too, there will be 1( Vietnamese at the head of sch( prize lists at the end of the yei Viets generally have been very go scholars.