TNAG-0791-FCO40-995-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 98

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RZ JEVED IN R20...Y NO. 51 1GMAY 1973

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TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 585 OF 9 MAY 1978

INFO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK, UKMIS GENEVA.

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YOUR TELNO 137: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ABOARD MY SIBONGA??

YOUR PARA 2: THE OFFICE HERE OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION

FOR EUROPEAN MIGRATION (ICEM) HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY WILL PURCHASE TICKETS FOR TRAVEL TO THE UK AGAINST PROMISSORY NOTES FROM THE REFUGEES AND WILL RECOVER COSTS THROUGH UNHCR. HMG WILL NOT BE INVOLVED.

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2. ICEM HAVE MADE PROVISIONAL BOOKINGS FOR THE GROUP TO LEAVE

HONG KONG ON FLIGHT BA20 ON 11 MAY (ETA LONDON 0900 LOCAL ON 12 MAY) EARLY DEPARTURE WOULD REDUCE THE DANGER OF ANY OF THE REFUGEES REFUSING ONWARD TRAVEL TO THE UK. IT IS ALSO HELPFUL

LOCALLY IF THE TIME SPENT IN TRANSIT IN HONG KONG FOR SUCH EXCEPTIONAL CASES CAN BE KEPT TO THE MINIMUM. PLEASE CONFIRM

WHETHER THIS TIME-RABLE IS ACCEPTABLE. IF NOT, ICEM WILL TRY TO BOOK ON A FLIGHT LEAVING ON 14 MAY: BUT THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT AS BOOKINGS ARE HEAVIER ON WEEKEND FLIGHTS.

3. WE ASSUME THAT, AS IN THE CASE OF RECENT REFUGEES WHO WENT TO

NORWAY, NO DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT ENTRY WILL BE REQUIRED BEYOND THE USUAL ICEM NOMINAL ROLL INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING NAME

AND DATE OF BIRTH,

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/4. IF BANGKOK.