TNAG-2029-FCO40-2891-Hong-Kong-freezing-of-Kuwaiti-and-Iraqi-assets-1990 — Page 39

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3660

OF 071049Z DECEMBER 90

RESTRICTED

Нивого 126

W

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, MANILA, DTP

DTP FOR IAD

OUR TELNO 3595 (NOT TO MANILA): OVERFLIGHT EMBARGO

206

006602

MDHIAN 3957

Red on 12/12

il

1. OUR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL DIVISION WAS NOTIFIED THROUGH THE AERONAUTICAL FIXED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (AFTN) ON 2 DECEMBER THAT AN IRAQI AIRWAYS B747, APPARENTLY CARRYING FILIPINO HOSTAGES FROM BAGHDAD TO MANILA, WOULD OVERFLY HONG KONG'S FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR). ALTHOUGH NOT BOUND BY THE IRAQ AND KUWAIT (UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS) (DEPENDENT TERRITORIES) (NO 2) ORDER 1990 TO REQUEST INSPECTION OF SUCH FLIGHTS, WE WERE ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHETHER THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE UN. IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THIS, CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAD TO MAKE ENQUIRIES THROUGH YOUR DUTY OFFICER, MANILA'S DUTY OFFICER AND MANILA ATC BEFORE THE LATTER CONFIRMED THAT THE FLIGHT HAD UN APPROVAL. THIS WAS A CUMBERSOME PROCEDURE. WE HAD HOPED THAT

UKMIS NEW YORK WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO WARN US IN ADVANCE OF UK

APPROVED IRAQI FLIGHTS DUE TO PASS THROUGH OUR FIR.

2. ON 3 DECEMBER, MANILA AUTHORITIES NOTIFIED CAD THROUGH THE AFTN THAT A SERIES OF FILIPINO CITIZENS FROM BAGHDAD TO MANILA WOULD TAKE PLACE DEPARTING BAGHDAD ON 1, 4, 7 AND 10 DECEMBER.

3. WE BELIEVE THE 1 DECEMBER FLIGHT WAS IN FACT THE FLIGHT WHICH PASSED THROUGH OUR FIR ON 3 DECEMBER BOUND FOR MANILA. LATER ON 3 DECEMBER AFTER CONSULTING DTP, CAD APPROVED A REQUEST FROM MANILA ATC FOR THE RETURN OF THIS AIRCRAFT THROUGH OUR FIR. WE

HAVE NO TRACE OF THE FLIGHT PROPOSED FOR 4 DECEMBER.

3. BEFORE ANY MORE IRAQI FLIGHTS REQUEST CLEARANCE TO FLY THROUGH OUR FIR EN ROUTE FROM MANILA TO BAGHDAD, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF UKMIS NEW YORK COULD ASCERTAIN WHETHER THEY HAVE UN APPROVAL. WE ASSUME THE UN SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FLIGHTS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE BAGHDAD ON 4,7 AND 10 DECEMBER.

FORD

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED