Urgency despite Chinese boat update

WELLINGTON - Diplomats told the Government that a boatload of illegal Chinese immigrants were not heading toward New Zealand two days before legislation was introduced under urgency to put them in detention camps when they arrived.

Cables obtained by the Dominion under the Official Information Act had many deletions. However, they show it was known that the Alexandra II, carrying 102 Chinese, would not make it to New Zealand. The ship went to Papua New Guinea instead.

A letter from Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere, dated June 15, confirmed with Prime Minister Jenny Shipley that the law change would be introduced into Parliament to be passed that night, rather than wait until October 1 for the changes to come into force.

It meant the boatpeople could be detained as long as necessary to process claims for refugee status.

The men were to be jailed in Rangipo Prison near Turangi and the women in Mt Eden women's wing in Auckland.

However, a cable from the NZ High Commission in the Solomon Islands on June 13 said: "As noted [deleted], the passengers claimed to be headed for New Zealand but [deleted under section 6 (c) ... to protect the maintenance of law and the right to a fair trial]."

The same cable said the boat had left Honiara on June 12, "ostensibly heading for China."

Diplomatic sources confirmed that diplomats had passed on the Solomons police view that the Alexandra II was going to Australia.

The vessel had been arrested as it arrived in Honiara, but was refuelled with 22,000 litres of diesel.

A cable from the High Commission in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on June 22 said a ship reported as the Alexandra II had been seen in an isolated part of Vanuatu.

Another cable from Canberra on June 29 said 61 people of Chinese origin had been dropped at the Papua New Guinea island of New Britain by an unidentified boat. "But our contact had a strong hunch that it could well be the Alexandra II."

Mr Delamere defended the law change, saying he had not misled anyone.

"I had doubts about whether this was their destination because it was still easier for them to get to Australia."

He said the Alexandra II was capable of reaching New Zealand.

He felt the urgent legislation was worthwhile because if the boatpeople had come to New Zealand under the old legislation and claimed refugee status, "it could have taken years to get rid of them." - NZPA