TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 49

SECRET

350

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3624

OF 311143Z OCTOBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI

HKB 243/9

MIPT: V.B.P: REPATRIATION

TOP COPY Q DIST?

T

130542

MDHIAN 2312

MIPT REPORTS THE SUCCESSFUL MOVE OF 48 SCREENED OUT CASES TO PHOENIX HOUSE. THE POSITION WE HAVE REACHED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH CATHAY PACIFIC IS THAT THEY HAVE NOW CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE

PREPARED TO PROVIDE AN AIRCRAFT AND CREW FOR REPATRIATION FLIGHTS TO HANOI AS WE EXPLAINED IN OUR TELNO 3580, THIS OFFER IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS BUT THESE DO NOT PRESENT PROBLEMS. THE AIRLINE HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE PLANNING

ON THE BASIS OF A FIRST FLIGHT ON EITHER 17 OR 24 NOVEMBER. HOWEVER, THEY ARE ABLE TO OFFER US A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IF WE NEED IT. SUBJECT TO 7 DAYS NOTICE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH A FLIGHT ANY WEEK-DAY FROM 14 NOVEMBER TO THE END OF THE

MONTH.

2. IN CONSULTING MINISTERS ON DATES FOR THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD BEAR IN MIND THE NEED TO AVOID AN EXTENDED STAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE NOW IN PHOENIX HOUSE. SEEN FROM HERE, THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES (13 NOVEMBER) AND THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE US (23/24 NOVEMBER) WOULD SEEM TO PRESENT FEWEST DIFFICULTIES. CATHAY PACIFIC HAVE A MARGINAL PREFERENCE FOR A THURSDAY RATHER THAN A FRIDAY. WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT WE PROCEED WITH PLANNING FOR AN OPERATION ON 16 RATHER THAN 17 NOVEMBER. THIS MEANS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO NOTIFY THE VIETNAMESE AND TIE UP THE LOOSE ENDS ON THE AGREEMENT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE 14 DAYS NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. OTHER POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE A FLIGHT IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 20 NOVEMBER BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE US, OR IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK JUST AFTER THE VISIT.

3.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HANOI'S WARNING CHANOI TELNO 570) ABOUT POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH GROUND EQUIPMENT. AT FIRST SIGHT THERE MIGHT WELL BE A PROBLEM: WE ARE LOOKING INTO THIS WITH CATHAY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.