TNAG-1909-FCO40-2713-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 130

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FM HONG KONG

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TELNO 4070

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INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON

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105277 MDHIAN 8553

HANOI TELNOS 110 AND 112, YRTELNO 410 AND MY TELNO 4032: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1. POLICE NUMBERS. THE PROCEDURES WE ARE ADOPTING ON POLICE NUMBERS AND REMOVAL PROCEDURES FOLLOW CLOSELY WHAT IS LAID DOWN IN FCO TELNO 410 TO HANOI. THE POLICE OFFICERS WILL NOT/NOT LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT, NOR WILL THEY BY VISIBLE FROM THE GROUND AT HANOI. WE MUST HOWEVER BE IN A POSITION TO REASSURE THE PILOT AND THE AIRLINE OF THE SAFETY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THIS MEANS THAT WE MUST HAVE SUFFICIENT MANPOWER TO DEAL WITH ANY DISTURBANCE. WE UNDERSTAND THE DELICACY OF THIS POINT, BUT, AS WE HAVE EXPLAINED, IT IS NOT IN FACT NECESSARY UNDER NORMAL AVIATION PROCEDURES TO INFORM THE VIETNAMESE ABOUT THE PRECISE NUMBER OF ACCOMPANYING POLICE OFFICERS. THE CAPTAIN WILL HAVE WITH HIM THE NORMAL FLIGHT MANIFEST, BUT WOULD ONLY HAND IT OVER IF ASKED BY THE VIETNAMESE AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD NOT/NOT GIVE DETAILS OF THE OCCUPATIONS OF THOSE ON THE LIST. WE THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMEND HMA HANOI DOES NOT/NOT REVERT ON THIS POINT WITH THE VIETNAMESE, OR, IF HE FEELS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DO SO BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN, THAT HE SHOULD SIMPLY SAY THAT THOSE BEING RETURNED WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOME IMMIGRATION POLICE AND WELFARE OFFICER BUT HE DOES NOT KNOW THE PRECISE BREAKDOWN.

2. GROUND HANDLING. AS EXPLAINED IN MY TELNO 4032, IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 20 MINUTES TO ASSEMBLE THE PLATFORM TO ENABLE US TO DISEMBARK THE RETURNEES. CAN'S COMMENTS ON WAITING ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT STOPS NEED THEREFORE TO BE CORRECTED AND WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HMA HANOI WOULD EXPLAIN THIS POINT. IN ADDITION, THE SENIOR SECURITY BRANCH OFFICER, ALISTAIR ASPREY, WILL LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVAL AND REMIND THE VIETNAMESE ABOUT THESE DISEMBARKATION ARRANGEMENTS.

WILSON

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