GPS 175
PRIORITY
CYPHERCATA
FM HONG KONG 1210002
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 918 OF 12 SEPTEMBER
CONFIDENTIAL
K
HKR 243/332/
INFO PRIORITY HANOI.
115
HANOI TELEGRAM NO. 173 TO YOU:
MAIDEEN.
A COPY OF IT IS BEING
DESPATCH UNDER REFERENCE WAS SENT TO THE F C O IN SAME BAG AS
THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER OF 20 AUGUST TO SIMONS.
DESPATCHED TO TESH FROM HERE BY NEXT BAG.
2. ON PARAGRAPH 5, WE SHALL NEED A FURTHER FIVE OR SIX FLIGHTS AFTER 23 SEPTEMBER TO CLEAR REMAINING NINE HUNDRED OR SO CLOSE DEPENDANTS (1.E. HUSBANDS, WIVES, DEPENDENT CHILDREN AND SOME OTHERS ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS). OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT PROVIDED WE DO NOTHING TO UPSET THE DELICATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH VIETNAMESE IN SAIGON, THEY ARE LIKELY TO APPROVE THIS NUMBER OF FLIGHTS BY END NOVEMBER. IF MAIDEEN THEN LEFT, THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE, SINCE THE REMAINING FIFTEEN THOUSAND OR SO APPLICANTS ARE EITHER
DISTANT DEPENDANTS OR RELATIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG
VERY RECENTLY ON SPECIA FLIGHTS.
/
3. ON PARAGRAPH 6, THERE ARE RISKS IN TRYING TO FORCE THE VIETNAMESE HAND BY ANY FORMAL NOTIFICATION TO STOP THE FLIGHTS. BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE TAKEN I SUGGEST THAT OUR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICAL ON THE NEXT FLIGHT SHOULD DISCUSS WITH MAIDEEN HOW TO WIND DOWN THE OPERATION IN SUCH A WAY THAT MAIDEEN'S
POSITION IS NOT FURTHER COMPLICATED AND THAT HE HAS THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OUT OF VIETNAM IN SAFETY. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ACCEPT MAIDEENT'S ADVICE ON THIS.
ALREADY MORE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THAT WE EVER EXPECTED THANKS
TO HIM AND THE AMBASSADOR'S TEAM.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
SEAD
PS HKIGD NT D MY D
REPETITION TO HANO REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION. REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POSTS
PS/ LORDGORONWYROBERTS
Ps) Pus
MRCORTAZZI MR MURRAY
MR KEEBLE
CONFIDENTIAL
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