TNAG-1909-FCO40-2713-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 24

SECRET

НКВ

243 la

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

09 JAN 1990

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 4242

OF 27113OZ DECEMBER 89

AND TO IMMEDIATE HANOI

INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA

DESK OFICER

INDEX

-

REGISTRY

Acton taken

545

151460 MDHIAN 0652

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

539

YOUR TELNO 2540: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

WE REMAIN VERY KEEN THAT THE SECOND REPATRIATION FLIGHT SHOULD TAKE

PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER SC3 AND BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR (27 JANUARY). 23 OR 24 JANUARY WOULD SUIT US BEST.

2. WE SUGGEST THAT THE PROGRAMME THERE-AFTER SHOULD BE:

(A) THIRD FLIGHT ON 6/7 FEBRUARY

(B) FOURTH FLIGHT ON 20/21 FEBRUARY :

(C) FIFTH FLIGHT ON 6/7 MARCH :

(D) SIXTH FLIGHT ON 20/21 MARCH.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THESE DATES MAY CLASH WITH VOLUNTEER REPATRIATION FLIGHTS, IN WHICH CASE WE CAN ADJUST AS NECESSARY.

3. WE HAVE SENT TO HANOI A FIRST LIST OF 97 NAMES, WHICH SHOULD ARRIVE TODAY (27 DECEMBER) OR TOMORROW. WE WILL SEND A SECOND LIST OF ABOUT 100 NAMES BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK, AND A THIRD LIST OF ABOUT 80 NAMES EARLY NEXT MONTH. THOSE CONCERNED WILL ALL BE RELATIVELY LONG STAYERS NOW HOUSED IN CHI MA WAN. WE EXPECT THAT FOR THE FLIGHTS IN MARCH WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELECT GROUPS OF RECENT OR NEW ARRIVALS.

4. THERE IS LIKELY TO BE STRONG RESISTANCE TO THE REMOVAL OF ANOTHER GROUP FROM CHI MA WAN. BUT THE ONLY FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE IS WHITEHEAD, WHICH WE BELIEVE WOULD BE AN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT OPERATION. WE PLAN TO CONDUCT THE OPERATION TO REMOVE THE FIRST GROUP OF 97 FROM CHI MA WAN ON 4 OR 5 JANUARY. THIS WILL BE PRECEDED BY A THOROUGH WEAPONS SEARCH OF THE CAMP CONDUCTED BY CSD AND POLICE ON 29 DECEMBER.

5. WE PROPOSE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE REMOVED FROM CHI MA WAN AT SAN UK LING. THIS IS A CENTRE NORMALLY USED TO HOLD ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA PRIOR TO REPATRIATION. IT HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN

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