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CONFIDENTIAL
UNHCR FLIGHTS SAIGON/HONG KONG
Tuesday
26 August
4.45 pm
5.00 pm
5.30 pm
'6.30 pm
6.40 p m
7.15 pm
8.30 pm
9.30 pm
10.00 pm
10.20 p
10.50 pa
Informed
Message from Air Traffic Control that first flight was on its way. Governor's Private Secretary.
Governor gave instructions that we should try to arrange for repatriation of some refugees on flight to Saigon next day provided they signed witnessed statements that they were going voluntarily.
Meeting with Director of Immigration and Secretary for Security to make arrangements for repatriation cases in the camps to be prepared for possible movement.
Informed by Air Traffic Control that plane had no passengers apart from Casella and von Gunten.
Instructions given to Immigration, Kai Tak to bring Casella to Colonial Secretariat on arrival.
Plane arrived. Group of 400 relatives at the airport expecting stranded Hong Kong belongers. Casella gave T V interview emphasising that the only purpose of the flights was to collect medicines for Vietnam.
Casella, Jackson, von Gunten, pilot and Air France Manager came to Secretariat to discuss future flights. Director of Immigration served notice on pilot that we expected him to carry some repatriates back to Vietnam on following day. On advice of Casella, he refused,
Rang Mr Male, F C O to explain situation.
Informed by Camp Commandants that twelve refugees had signed statements to the effect that they were willing to return by UNHCR flights.
Casella promised to seek Vietnamese permission for future flights to carry liong Kong belongers and repatriates, if flight allowed to leave on folloving day without any repatriates,
Immigration Department instructed not to continue taking statements from would-be repatriates.
CONFIDENTIAL
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