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TO IMMEDIATE FCO
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TELNO
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OF 24101OZ SEPTEMBER 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
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(35
077526
MDHIAN 6578
EX-CHINA VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (ECVIIS): REPATRIATION BY AIR.
SUMMARY.
1.
CHINESE AGREE TO REPATRIATION BY AIR OF 340 ECVIIS FROM HAINAN PROVINCE. REPATRIATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS BEGINNING ON 13 OCTOBER, WITH TWO FLIGHTS ON EACH DAY. CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE OVER THE REPATRIATION BY AIR OF A FURTHER BATCH OF 440 ECVIIS FROM GUANGXI PROVINCE.
DETAIL.
2.
FOLLOWING OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CHIENSE TO REPATRIATE BY SEA THOSE ECVIIS WHO CAME FROM GUANGXI AND HAINAN PROVINCE WE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH FOR A SUITABLE VESSEL FOR THIS PURPOSE. WE WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A SHIP WHICH SATISFIED OUR REQUIREMENTS. WE ACCORDINGLY PROPOSED TO THE CHIENSE SIDE THAT THE 340 ECVIIS FROM HAINAN PROVINCE WHOSE NAMES HAVE ALREADY BEEN CLEARED FOR RETURN SHOULD BE REPATRIATED BY AIR. THIS THEY AGREED.
3.
THE REPATRIATION WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS STARTING ON 13 OCTOBER WITH TWO FLIGHTS EACH DAY, ONE IN THE MORNING AND ONE IN THE AFTERNOON. A HERCULES AIRCRAFT WILL BE USED FOR THE OPERATION.
DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING WITH THE CHIENSE SIDE OVER THE REPATRIATION BY AIR OF SOME 440 ECVIIS FROM GUANGXI PROVINCE. WE HOPE TO EFFECT THEIR REPATRIATION ON FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS STARTING ON 18 OCTOBER.
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