SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 301200Z FCO
TELNO 3948
OF 30105OZ NOVEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
SECRET
052534
MDADAN 6430
Mr Edwards, Legal Advisors Grattful for your
uloase
Commont
Maxwellan
YOUR TELNO 2386: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION:
OPERATIONAL PLAN
SECRECY WILL BE ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO CARRY OUT THIS FIRST
REPATRIATION OPERATION SUCCESSFULLY. IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THE SCOPE
FOR PRESS COVERAGE WE HAVE PLANNED ON THE BASIS OF A 05.00 HOURS
TAKE OFF FROM HONG KONG. THIS MEANS THAT THE OPERATION IS TIMED TO
START AT 03.00 HOURS. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND TIMINGS WILL BE AS
FOLLOWS:
(1) THE POLICE WILL CORDON OFF PHOENIX HOUSE TO PREVENT PRESS
HAVING ACCESS TO SURROUNDING STREETS SHORTLY BEFORE THE OPERATION STARTS.
(2) AT 03.00 HOURS ABOUT 100 CSD OFFICERS WILL BE DEPLOYED TO PHOENIX HOUSE. THIS DEPLOYMENT WILL COMPRISE A TEAM OF COUNSELLORS WHO ARE WELL KNOWN TO THE VBP, INTERPRETERS, CSD WELFARE OFFICERS AND, ON STANDBY, TWO PLATOONS OF THE CSD TACTICAL RESPONSE SQUAD (TRS). THE TRS OFFICERS WILL BE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH A DISTURBANCE. THE COUNSELLING TEAM AND THE WELFARE OFFICERS WILL WAKE THE 56 PEOPLE TO BE RETURNED AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT IS TO HAPPEN. THEY WILL BE ASKED TO PACK THEIR BELONGINGS IN LABELLED BAGS WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED, AND TO PREPARE TO LEAVE PHOENIX HOUSE BY 03.45 HOURS. EVERYONE WILL BE SEARCHED, AS WILL BAGGAGE, BEFORE
LEAVING PHOENIX HOUSE.
(3) IF THE COUNSELLING TEAM AND THE WELFARE OFFICERS ARE UNABLE TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO LEAVE, OFFICERS OF THE TRS WILL ESCORT THEM TO THE WAITING VEHICLES. THESE OFFICERS WILL BE AUTHORISED TO USE THE MINIMUM NECESSARY FORCE TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE OPERATION.
(4) EIGHT POLICE VEHICLES WILL BE DRAWN UP ON THE BASKET BALL COURT AT PHOENIX HOUSE READY TO RECEIVE THE RETURNEES. THIS AREA WILL BE SCREENED FROM VIEW. THE RETURNEES WILL BE HANDED OVER TO POLICE OFFICERS AT THIS POINT AND CSD OFFICERS WILL TAKE NO FURTHER PART IN THE OPERATION. THE POLICE WILL DEPLOY ONE PLATOON OF THE POLICE
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