CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2306
OF 11042OZ JULY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
CONFIDENTIAL
(76)
117767
MDHIAN 2727
HKB 24319.
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELNO 243 TO HANOI : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
65
WE CONFIRM THAT IT IS OUR INTENTION TO FUND THE FIRST REPATRIATION EXERCISE UNDER DELEGATED FINANCIAL AUTHORITY. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE FIRST BATCH OF NON-VOLUNTEERS WOULD RETURN IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 17 JULY, IT WOULD BE OUR INTENTION TO APPROACH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE FUNDS REQUIRED FOR AN INITIAL PROGRAMME FOR 1,000 AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON 26 JULY.
2. AS REGARDS WHETHER A CHEAPER (SMALLER) AIRCRAFT WOULD BE AVAILABLE, OUR ENQUIRIES HAVE NOT PRODUCED ANY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO A BOEING 737. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SMALLER AIRCRAFT IN THE PHILIPPINES AND BANGLADESH, AVAILABLITY WITHIN THE TIME FRAME ENVISAGED CANNOT BE RELIED UPON. MOREOVER, THE ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR BRINGING THE AIRCRAFT TO HONG KONG AND ITS SUBSEQUENT RETURN WOULD MAKE THE TOTAL COST AS MUCH AS THAT OF CHARTERING A BOEING
737 FROM DRAGONAIR.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
109
DISTRIBUTION
115
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
INFO D
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PAGE
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
1
CONFIDENTIAL