CONFIDENTIAL
185,
025005
MDHIAN 2779
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
TELNO MISC 278
OF 01050OZ MAY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, BANGKOK
Hko 24319 нко
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION: SECOND BATCH OF RETURNEES
TOP CORY
1. ICM HAVE INFORMED US THAT DRAGON AIR HAVE RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES WITH THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES OVER THE CHARTER FLIGHT PLANNED FOR 12 MAY. THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THEY DID FOR THE FIRST FLIGHT BUT THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT MUST BE PRESENTED THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS.
2. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INFORM MFA THAT THE RETURN OF THE SECOND BATCH OF VOLUNTEERS IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON 12 MAY, THAT A DRAGON AIR CHARTERED AIRCRAFT WILL BE USED AND THAT IT WILL LEAVE HONG KONG AT 043OZ. THIS TIMING MEANS THAT THE AIRCRAFT WILL ARRIVE AT HANOI DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.
3. WE HAVE YET TO RECEIVE CLEARANCE FROM THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES FOR THE ADDITIONAL 24 PEOPLE TO JOIN THE FLIGHT. THESE PEOPLE WERE CLEARED BY THE VISITING OFFICIALS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY HANOI.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
102
ΜΑΙΝ
96
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
NEWS
PS
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
PAGE
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
1
CONFIDENTIAL