CONFIDENTIAL
101042 {
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MDHOAN 5120
SITUATION, WE BOTH CONSIDER THAT AN ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF HONG KONG AND VIETNAM WOULD CONSTITUTE A MORE SATISFACTORY BASIS FOR OPERATING ANY AIR SERVICES IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ASA, RATHER THAN SIMPLE RELIANCE ON COMMERCIAL INTER-AIRLINE ARRANGEMENTS (WHICH COULD OF COURSE NEVERTHELESS REMAIN A FEATURE). THIS IS NORMAL PRACTICE UNLESS THERE ARE OBVIOUS PRACTICAL PROBLEMS (EG THE CASE OF SERVICES TO TAIWAN), WHICH DO NOT APPLY IN THE CASE OF VIETNAM. INDEED, BEFORE THEIR SUSPENSION IN 1975, HONG KONG/VIETNAM AIR SERVICES WERE OPERATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A 1968 INTER-GOVERNMENTAL EXCHANGE OF NOTES. WE ARE THEREFORE CONTENT FOR YOU TO NEGOTIATE AND CONCLUDE A SUITABLE SET OF REPLACEMENT ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE VIETNAMESE.
5. WE WOULD ALSO CONSIDER IT WORTHWHILE (IF NOT STRICTLY NECESSARY GIVEN THAT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT IN THEMSELVES PRESUMABLY SURVIVE IN THIS FORM BEYOND 1997) FOR UKREP JLG TO INFORM THE CHINESE OF ANY IMPENDING RESUMPTION OF HONG KONG/VIETNAM AIR SERVICES.
WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULED AIR SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD PERHAPS GROW OUT
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OF AN INITIAL REGULAR TRISTAR CHARTER FOR THE RETURN OF VOLUNTEER AND GREY AREA VBP. FOR EXAMPLE, ONCE ONE REGULAR WEEKLY FLIGHT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, THE START OF SCHEDULED FLIGHTS COULD COINCIDE WITH THE ADDITION OF A SECOND TRISTAR PER WEEK, UNDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNHCR AND CPA THAT UNHCR WILL BOOK HALF THE CAPACITY OF EACH AIRCRAFT (IE 250 SEATS IN TOTAL EACH WEEK) AT REDUCED COST. THIS WOULD OF COURSE DEPEND ON CPA'S INTENTIONS, AND WOULD BE A TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT PENDING EFFORTS TO RAISE THE RATE OF RETURN TO 2,000 A MONTH.
7. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY RESISTORS, WITH ESCORTS, SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED ON SCHEDULED FLIGHTS. DEPORTATIONS ARE USUALLY CARRIED OUT ON SCHEDULED SERVICES, WITH THE ADVANTAGE THAT THERE IS NO FOCUS OF ACTIVITY, SUCH AS THE ARRANGEMENT OF A SPECIAL FLIGHT, TO ATTRACT MEDIA ATTENTION. A SCHEDULED SERVICE COULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEPORT INITIALLY SMALL NUMBERS OF SCREENED OUT (EVEN AS FEW AS ONE OR TWO FAMILIES AT A TIME) WITH THE MINIMUM OF DIFFICULTY. GRATEFUL TO WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS REFLECT ANTICIPATED PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRLINES OR SOME OTHER CONCERN.
CONSULAR RELATIONS
8. WE ACCEPT YOUR ARGUMENT FOR RETAINING THIS CARD FOR THE TIME BEING AND AGREE THAT CHINESE SENSITIVITY IS A FACTOR WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. HOWEVER, YOU MAY LIKE TO BE AWARE
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