New Hebrides To Lose
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Its Vietnamese First
Sixty Vietnamese from New Cale donia and 490 from Vila, New Hebrides, are expected to be on their way back to North (Communist) Vietnam in the British liner "Eastern Queen" by August 1.
The "Eastern Queen" arrived in Noumea on June 10 to start re patriating the Vietnamese, but the Vietnamese refused to embark until a supervisory mission from North Vietnam arrived. Later, it was de cided that only 60 Viets would leave from Noumea on the first voyage — these being people who were origin ally in the New Hebrides —and that the rest would go from Vila.
The "Eastern Queen" was expected to leave Vila for Haiphong about July 31 or August 1. On her second voyage, she will take 550 Viets from Santo. After that the full-scale repatriation of Viets from New Cale donia will begin.
The Viets were brought into New Caledonia and the New Hebrides as indentured labourers before the war.
Because of diplomatic difficulties they have been there ever since.