G R 235
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 0110172
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY NO. 51
2 JUN 1977
HKCX243/-
Ry Enter
сри
TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.558 OF 1 JUNE 243/331/
FOLLOWING TEL PASSED TO YOU AT THE REQUEST. OF HANOI WAS SENT TO HANOI AS TELNO.70 OF 31ST MAY,
INFO IMMEDIATE HO CHI MINH CITY.
FROM DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.
SPECIAL FLIGHTS.
:
ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS THERE ARE NOW ABOUT 1,000 DEPENDANTS WITH HONG KONG ENTRY PERMITS WAITING TO LEAVE VIETNAM. ON THE BASIS OF TWO FLIGHTS PER MONTH EACH CARRYING ABOUT 160 PERSONS IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO AIRLIFT THIS NUMBER.
IN ADDITION APPLICATIONS IN RESPECT OF SOME 8,600 DEPENDANTS ARE STILL OUTSTANDING AND WE ARE RECEIVING FRESH APPLICATIONS AT THE RATE OF ABOUT 1,000 PER MONTH. IF ONLY 20% OF THESE APPLICATIONS ARE APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL 1,700 PERSONS WILL BE CLEARED BY US FOR ENTRY TO HONG KONG WITH ADDITIONS AT THE RATE OF 200 PER MONTH.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE THINK THAT FOR THE TIME BEING WE SHOULD AIM AT FOUR CHARTER FLIGHTS PER MONTH. CATHAY PACIFIC HAVE TODAY INDICATED THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE, CREWS FOR FLIGHTS ON 11TH, 15TH, 21ST AND 24TH JUNE AND IT WOULD BE A BIG HELP IF WE COULD FLY ON THESE DATES. DO YOU THINK THE VIETNAMESE WILL BE ABLE TO ISSUE SUFFICIENT EXIT PERMITS QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ENABLE US TO DO THIS AND CAN YOU SEE ANY OTHER POSSIBLE SNAGS THAT MIGHT PREVENT US ACHIEVING THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF INCREASING THE PACE OF THE
OPERATION FOR SAY THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS?
ENDS
MACLEHOSE
FILES
MVD SEAD HK&GD
RESTRICTED
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