TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 129

SECRET

053212 MDHIAN 9784

9. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE COSTS OF THE REPATRIATION EXERCISE WILL BE SHARED ON A 50/50 BASIS BY HMG AND HKG. WE WILL OF COURSE COVER THE COST OF THE AIRCRAFT CHARTER AND POCKET MONEY (USD 30 FOR EACH ADULT AND USD15 FOR EACH CHILD SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT) IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO COVER THE COSTS OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. ONCE THE OPERATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, THE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE

OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

0. (I) AIRCRAFT. DRAGONAIR HAVE INFACT PROVED THEMSELVES TO BE DISCREET. WE CANNOT ALTOGETHER RULE OUT THE POSSIBLILITY OF A LEAK BUT WE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO LOOK AROUND FOR AN ALTERNATIVE AIRLINE AT THIS LATE STAGE. THE ONLY LIKELY ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE PHILIPPINE AIRLINES. THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE AN AIRCRAFT AVAILABLE BUT TO USE A FOREIGN CARRIER WOULD INTRODUCE DIPLOMATIC COMPLICATIONS WHICH WOULD

BE MOST UNWELCOME.

(II) MOVEMENTS. THE RETURNEES WILL LEAVE PHOENIX HOUSE UNDER

POLICE ESCORT AT 05.30 HOURS ON 31 OCTOBER. THE JOURNEY TO KAI TAK

WILL TAKE LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR AND THE AIRCRAFT IS TIMED FOR

DEPARTURE AT 0630 HOURS. WE ARE PLANNING TO USE AN AIRBRIDGE. THE VBP WILL BOARD THE AIRCRAFT IN A SECTION OF THE AIRPORT WHICH CANNOT

BE SEEN FROM ANY POINT TOWHICH THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS.

(III) FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT TO HANOI WILL TAKE ABOUT 2 AND A HALF HOURS.

WE ARE PLANNING TO PROVIDE A SECURITY ESCORT ON THE FLIGHT ON A ONE

TO ONE BASIS I.E. ONE POLICE OFFICER FOR EACH VBP. A SMALL NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND SECURITY BRANCH OFFICIALS WILL ALSO TRAVEL TO HANOI TO EFFECT THE HANDOVER OF THE VBP TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.

(IV) VIDEO TAPING. THE DEPARTURE PROCEDURES FROM PHOENIX HOUSE AND

AT THE AIRPORT WILL BE TAPED.

(V) LEGAL BASIS. THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IS EMPOWERED UNDER SECTION 13(E) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE TO REMOVE ANY VBP WHO HAS

BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. DIRECTIONS MAY BE

GIVEN UNDER SECTION 24(1)(D) FOR THE REMOVAL OF SUCH PEOPLE TO

A SPECIFIED COUNTRY. SECTION 33 PROVIDES THE POWERS TO PLACE PEOPLE

SUBJECT TO A REMOVAL ORDER ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT TO EFFECT THE REMOVAL.

(VI) DISEMBARKATION. THE DISEMBARKATION AT HANOI WILL BE HANDLED BY

PAGE

SECRET

3