CONFIDENTIAL
051/2
RE
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO
1436
OF 061055Z SEPTEMBER 93
i.
INFO IMMEDIATE NEW DELHI, BANGKOK
2
Y
93
لا
(4)
026373
MDHIAN 3959
NIR
YOUR TELNO 581 TO NEW DELHI AND NEW DELHI TELNOS 803 AND 804 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1433: SIKH TERRORISM: INDIAN REQUEST FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE
SUMMARY
3
ON 5 SEPTEMBER TWO OF THE THREE SIKHS DEPARTED HONG KONG TO BANGKOK ON BOARD FLIGHT TG 603. THE THIRD (HARDEEP SINGH) WAS RELEASED AND REMAINS IN HONG KONG. DESPITE THE ARRANGEMENTS AGREED AT THE MEETING WITH THE INDIAN COMMISSION REPORTED IN OUR TUR, THE SIKH'S DEPARTURE WAS BEDEVILLED WITH LAST MINUTE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE FOUR INDIAN POLICE ESCORTS HAD NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY BRIEFED. A REPORTED FRACAS IN BANGKOK HAS CAUSED THE SIKHS TO MISS THEIR
CONNECTING FLIGHT AND THEY ARE NOW BELIEVED TO BE STILL IN BANGKOK.
DETAIL
2. ON 5 SEPTEMBER WE PROCEEDED TO RETURN TWO OF THE THREE SIKHS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARRANGEMENTS WORKED OUT WITH THE INDIAN COMMISSION. THEY WERE SEATED TOGETHER AND THEIR EMERGENCY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WERE HANDED OVER TO THE PURSAR WITH A REQUEST THAT THEY BE GIVEN TO AN
INDIAN OFFICIAL UPON ARRIVAL IN BANGKOK.
3. THE THIRD SIKH (HARDEEP SINGH) WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO REMOVAL AND ADVISED THAT HE COULD EITHER DEPART HONG KONG WITH HIS COLLEAGUES OR BE GRANTED A 7-DAY LIMIT OF STAY IN HONG KONG UP UNTIL 12 SEPTEMBER. HE DECIDED TO STAY AND WAS DULY RELEASED.
4. THE INDIAN COMMISSION HAD TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD BRIEF THE FOUR INDIAN POLICE ESCORTS BEFORE DEPARTURE OF THE FLIGHT. WE HAVE ASKED
THAT THEY REACH THE AIRPORT IN TIME FOR US TO GO OVER ARRANGEMENTS WITH THEM, BUT THEY FAILED TO ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT AT THE AGREED TIME AND CLEARLY HAD RECEIVED NO PRIOR BRIEFING FROM THE INDIAN COMMISSION. THEY WERE UNAWARE THAT ONE OF THE THREE SIKHS WAS TO BE RELEASED: THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO PASS THROUGH NORMAL IMMIGRATION
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