TNAG-1940-FCO40-2766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 47

CONFIDENTIAL

69. Use of Cyprus for Reception of Evacuees.

a. When Cyprus is used as a reception point for evacuees it should be noted that, for most of the year, normal commercial flights into Paphos or Larnaca are inadequate to cope with the numbers likely to require evacuation. Larnaca is also 35 miles from RAF Akrotiri. Therefore, the normal arrangement for evacuation will be for MOD (Air), after consultation with the FCO and Department of Transport, to charter aircraft to lift evacuees direct from RAF Akrotiri to the UK immediately after their arrival at the station.

b.

are:

Responsibilities for evacuees when Cyprus is used as a reception point

(1) Commander British Forces Cyprus (CBFC). CBFC, assisted where necessary by the British High Commissioner (BHC) Nicosia, is responsible for reception and, if necesary, temporary accommodation of evacuees in transit through the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs).

(2) British High Commissioner Nicosia.

(a) BHC Nicosia will try to arrange accommodation within the Republic of Cyprus for those evacuees whose onward movement is delayed, and who cannot be accommodated within the SBAs.

(b) When evacuees are to be airlifted direct to UK from RAF Akrotiri by chartered aircraft, BHC Nicosia will inform the Republic of Cyprus Government as necessary.

(c) BHC Nicosia may request CBFC for the provision under Operation BARN OWL of telegraphic communications between his Emergency Section established at RAF Akrotiri and FCO London.

Ascension Island. When Ascension Island is designated as the reception point for an evacuation, the Commander British Forces Ascension Island (CBFASI) will be responsible for the reception, and if necessary, temporary accommodation, of refugees in transit. He may also be required to provide some logistic support for the evacuation force. Where Ascension Island is to be used as a reception point or staging airfield, CBFASI is to inform MOD of the requirements for the individual reinforcements for the support of RAF Ascension Island from the serials listed at Annex E Appendix 2.

IMPLEMENTATION

71. Warning Order. The issue of a Warning Order is normally the first stage of implementation. As soon as it appears likely that a plan may have to be implemented, whether fully or only in part, MOD will issue a Warning Order by signal to all concerned. The signal will normally:

16

CONFIDENTIAL