PA(621
Mr Court
CONFIDENTIAL
нко 243/8.
PS/Lord Glenarthur
RECEIVED
REGISTRY 5 AUG 1988
FFICER
INDL
TELEGRAM NO 280 FROM HANOI
Taken
FROM:
DATE:
BP AUSTIN
4 AUGUST 1988
cc Mr Gillmore
Private Secretary Mr Thomas, SEAD Mr Paul, Hong Kong Dept
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
603
1.
In your minute of 4 August you asked for an explanation of why this flash telegram took two and a quarter hours to reach the FCO. We have had this investigated and I attach a minute from Mr Carroll setting out the details of the timing.
2.
Hanoi is an offline post which means that the telegram had first to be encrypted as a separate operation and then sent via radio to CRS Hanslope Park. The time of origin of the telegram indicated the time it was authorised for transmission, with a telegram of 400 groups and allowing an average speed of 20 words per minute to produce a type for encryption, this operation alone would take some 20 minutes. Radio contact would then have to be made with Hanslope Park outside the normal transmission times. The original transmission from Hanoi started at 1720Z, was completed at 1744Z and it was received in London at 1754Z. Given the length of the telegram this is not an unreasonable time factor. It was unfortunate that because of the radio conditions this first transmission was corrupt and the telegram could not be decyphered. further transmission was received at 1810Z and the advance copy, after decyphering was sent to Mr Gillmore at 1828Z, ie within 2 minutes of decypherment.
3.
The
I hope this explains the length of time which this telegram apparently took. There is always a risk with radio circuits that conditions will cause corruptions of chpher groups, in this case remedial action was taken at once and the telegram handled as swiftly as possible.
B. P. Austin
BP Austin
Communications Operations Dept
CONFTDENSTAT
Mr Fy N18
Wo