CONFIDENTIAL
Iser
RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE, MR HA H CORTAZZI CMG, AND THE VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR. MR TRAN HOAN, HELD AT 4.30 PM ON 27 FEBRUARY 1979, IN THE
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Present:
Mr HAH Cortazzi CMG
DUSS, FCO
Mr P J Williamson
HKK 243 11
RECEIVED IN REGSTRY NO. 51
- 2 MAR 1979
INDEX
PA
No
J5:3
Mr Tran Hoan
Viatatiese Ambassador
An Interpreter
HKGD, FCO
444
In welcoming Mr Tran, I reminded the Ambassador that he had asked at a recent meeting with Lord Goronwy-Roberts for evidence of official Vietnamese complicity in the voyages of large boats from Vietnam to Hong Kong with refugees on board. I handed Mr Tran a speaking note (copy attached) which I said was based on a telegram just received from the Hong Kong Government, and then read it out.
2. In expanding on the statement, I said that the two pilots provided in Vietnam for the Huey Fong could only have been pro- vided with the knowledge and support of Vietnamese officials.
る。 I asked the Ambassador to report these facts to the Vietnamese Government immediately and to inform them that the British Government regarded this evidence as indicating Vietnamese
Government complicity in this matter, or at the very least that Vietnamese officials were fully involved. If the latter were the case, the Vietnamese Government should take immediate action to deal with such corrupt officers. I concluded by saying that I would be grateful if the Ambassador would let me have the Vietnamese Government's comments on the contents of the note.
4. I then handed the Ambassador a second speaking note (copy attached) about the Lucky Dragon. I explained that it would be quite easy for the British Government to know if a ship had stopped en route to Hong Kong as the distance between Hong Kong and Singapore was well known. I then asked the Ambassador to telegraph his Government immediately asking that Vietnamese officials be on the watch to ensure that the Lucky Dragon did not take on passengers in Vietnam.
5. I also handed the Ambassador a copy of the statement made by the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations in the Security Council on 24 February. I suggested the Ambassador might find it useful reading.
CONFIDENTIAL
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