TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 38

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3651

OF 02110OZ NOVEMBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI

(350)

SECRET

HKB

243

19

355

137512

MDHIAN 2666

TOP COPY Q DIST?

OUR TELNO 3624 AND HANOI TELNO 579: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

REPATRIATION

LE THO'S REMARKS ARE NOT ENCOURAGING BUT WE SHARE HANOI'S VIEW THAT THE SOONER WE GET ON WITH THIS EXERCISE THE BETTER. WE ARE NOW

RUNNING UP AGAINST TIMING CONSTRAINTS. WE HAVE ALREADY VIRTUALLY PASSED THE DEADLINE OF A MINIMUM 14 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE RETURN OF A FIRST GROUP ON 16 NOVEMBER.

2. SINCE HANOI MAY NEED TO MOVE FAST WHEN YOU HAVE A MINISTERIAL DECISION, THEY MAY FIND IT USEFUL TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMAT- ION ON POSSIBLE FLIGHTS WHICH WOULD COVER EITHER 16 OR 17 NOVEMBER.

DATE OF FLIGHT : 16 OR 17 NOVEMBER

OPERATOR

: CATHAY PACIFIC

FLIGHT NUMBERS : OUTWARD FLIGHT NO. CX 2601

INWARD FLIGHT NO.

CX 2602

ETD HK

: 21:OOZ

ETA HANOI

: 23:3OZ

ETD HANOI

: 01:0OZ

ETA HK

: 03:25Z

AIRCRAFT TYPE

:

LOCKHEED 1011

-

TRISTAR

REGISTRATION :

VRHHV

RADIO CALL SIGN:

CATHAY 2601 OR 2602

RETURNING

:

CREW

:

50 - 60

12

2. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR INFORMATION FROM THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AT HANOI ON THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE GROUND HANDLING EQUIPMENT. HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO MAKING PLANS TO TAKE SUITABLE STEPS EQUIPMENT TO HANOI IF THE GROUND HANDLING EQUIPMENT AT THE AIRPORT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR A TRISTAR.

WILSON