BUT ABOUT 5TH MARCH IT IS DUE FOR A COMPULSORY MAINTENANCE OVERHAUL LASTING AT LEAST A FORTNIGHT. THE SERVICES HAVE- NO AIRCRAFT CAPABLE OF TAKING ITS PLACE DURING THIS PERIOD.
ALTHOUGH THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF A VESSEL CARRYING REFUGEES TOWARD HONG KONG WOULD NOT ITSELF ENABLE US TO PREVENT ITS ARRIVAL, THE FOREKNOWLEDGE WOULD ALLOW PREPARATIONS TO BE MADE FOR ITS RECEPTION BEARING IN MIND THE INCREASING CONGESTION
OF OUR FACILITIES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE VISIBLE PRESENCE
OF A HONG KONG BASED SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS SO OPERATING WOULD ACT AS A DETERRENT TO VESSELS
ENGAGED IN THE REFUGEE TRADE.
け
5. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER WITH
M OD AS A MATTER OF URGENCY THE PROVISION OF AIR SEARCH ASSIST-
ANCE FOR HONG KONG INITIALLY TO COVER THE PERIOD NEXT MONTH
DURING WHICH THE ISLANDER IS LAID OFF. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED
THAT A CANBERRA PR' 7 WHICH HAVE OPERATED FROM HERE BEFORE WOULD
BE A SUITABLE AIRCRAFT. WE WOULD HOPE THAT IT COULD BE PROVIDED
AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
6. M O D HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADVISED BY C B F OF THE LIKELIHOOD
OF SUCH A REQUEST. IT HAS BEEN GIVE DETAILS OF THE TYPE OF AIR
SEARCH REQUIRED. FOR YOUR INFORMATION THIS WOULD CONSIST OF
A DAILY AIR RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT TO EACH OF THE THREE MAIN SEA
ROUTES TO THE S.E., S AND S.W. OF HONG KONG UP TO A DISTANCE OF
ABOUT 300 MILES. IN ADDITION THE S.W. ROUTE WOULD NEED TO BE
SEARCHED AS FAR AS THE LIMIT OF THE HONG KONG FLIGHT INFORMATION
REGION (ABOUT 609 MILES) ON AS MANY DAYS AS POSSIBLE. THE BASIC REQUIREMENT WOULD BE TO OPERATE AT ABOUT 1,000 FT OVER A 1,000
MILE TRACK NAVIGATING INDEPENDENTLY OF LAND BASED NAVIGATIONAL
FACILITIES AND BEYOND RADAR COVER.
MACLEHOSE
NNNN
IMMEDIATE