As
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
GRPS 664
FM HANOI 16074OZ
REC
", 51
20 JUN 1977
Nick 21s 330
LAST
by Enter
pu
60
CONFIDENTIAL
"
NO
RET.
6
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG (GOVERNOR ANDDIR. OF IMMIG) TELNO 98 OF 16 JUNE
INFO PRIORITY FCO
EVACUATION FLIGHTS AND SAIGON STAFF.
1. I HAVE JUST SPENT FIVE DAYS IN SAIGON PREPARING A FULL HISTORY OF OUR UNOFFICIAL PRESENCE THERE SINCE APRIL 1975. THIS WILL
BE IN NEXT BAG.
2. IT HAS, AFTER THE EARLY MONTHS, DEVELOPED ALMOST ENTIRELY IN CRDER TO EVACUATE HONG KONG DEPENDENTS. YOUR TELNO 172 TO FCO IMPLIES EVACUATION, UNDER VIETNAMESE PRESSURE AT
AN ALMOST INTOLERABLE RATE. DOUBLE ANY PREVIOUS ONE FOR NEXT SIX MONTHS AND IMMIGRATION DEPT MEMO OF 27 MAY ENVISAGES
POSSIBILITY OF A HIGH RATE FOR VERY MUCH LONGER.
3.. THE WHOLE EFFICIENT ORGANISATION DEPENDS ON THE INDIAN CITIZEN, MAIDEEN. I HAVE HAD TO TELL HIM THAT FCO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RENEW AFTER OCTOBER, THE BRITISH PASSPORT HE
WAS GIVEN FOR PROTECTION BY HM EMBASSY SAIGON IN APRIL 1975.
HE IS REGISTERED IN SAIGON AS BRITISH AND IS NOT ON THE INDIAN LIST FOR EVACUATION. HE HAS SAID HE WILL DO HIS UTMOST TO MEET YOUR
DEMANDS OF FOUR FLIGHTS A MONTH BUT WILL START
FROM SEPTEMBER MAKING PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE
IN OCTOBER. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE UNDER PRETEXT OF CONSULTATION
OR HOLIDAY AND HE WILL HAVE ABANDON MOST OF HIS POSSESSIONS..
I HAVE PROMISED MY FULL CONNIVANCE. THIS MUST BE ABSOLUTELY
CONFIDENTIAL OR VIETNAMESE WOULD STOP HIS EXIT.
4. MY REPORT ASSESSES OUR
CHANCES OF CONTINUING OPERATION AFTER HE LEAVES BUT IS VERY
PESSIMISTIC INDEED.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5. MEANWHILE,