SECRET
1021
MDHIAN 5833
4. MIFT CONTAINS A DEFENSIVE LINE WHICH WE SHALL DEPLOY IF NEWS OF OUR PLANS REACHES THE PRESS. WE WILL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY WITH A SUGGESTED LINE TO TAKE WITH UNHCR WHOULD THEY SEEK CLARIFICATION OF OUR INTENTIONS.
5. ON CAN'S SUGGESTION THAT THE FLIGHT BE TIMED TO ARRIVE IN HANOI AT 6 OR 7 IN THE EVENING, WE THINK WE MUST ALSO GO BACK TO THE VIETNAMESE IN DEFENCE OF OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. LEAVING ASIDE CATHAY'S DIFFICULTIES OVER PROVIDING AN AIRCRAFT DURING THE PEAK AFTERNOON PERIODS, IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOUNT THE OPERATION IN SECRET AT THAT TIME OF THE DAY. THE AIRPORT WOULD BE VERY BUSY AS WOULD THE ROADS BETWEEN PHOENIX HOUSE AND THE AIRPORT. WE ADVISE STRONGLY AGAINST AN AFTERNOON DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG. AN EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE WOULD MAXIMISE OUR CHANCES OF SECRECY AT THIS END AND WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE IN HANOI.
6. WE ARE PUZZLED BY THE VIETNAMESE REQUEST FOR PHOTOGRAPHS. THE COMPLETED REPATRIATION FORMS FOR EACH OF THE RETURNEES, WITH PHOTOGRAPHS ATTACHED, WERE PASSED TO THE VIETNAMESE IN AUGUST. THEY HAVE PERHAPS NOT APPRECIATED THAT THIS FIRST GROUP OF RETURNEES HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM THE 114 PEOPLE CLEARED FOR RETURN.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
111
DISTRIBUTION
119
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
NAD
NEWS
INFO D
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
MR MOSS
MR BLATHERWICK
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