CONTI DENIAL
(4) 30 DENIED STRONGLY THAT VIETNAM WAS PURSUING
A POLICY TO GET RID OF ETHNIC CHINESE AND THAT VIETNAM WAS ACCEPTING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY. THERE MIGHT BE SOME CORRUPTION (THAT HAPPENED IN MANY COUNTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOCKHEED AFFAIR) BUT THAT DID NOT REPRESENT THE POLICY OF VIETNAM. HE AGREED THAT THE ILLEGAL EMIGRATION MUST BE STOPPED, VIETNAM WAS TRYING TO DO THIS, HENCE THE AGREEMENT WITH UNHCR ON A 7-POINT PROGRAMME. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR SHOULD NOT BELIEVE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST VIETNAM AND SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE CORRECT STATEMENTS OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.
5. THE MAJOR VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER, NHAN DAN AND VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY PUBLICATION OF 9 JUNE BOTH RECORD THAT I WAS SUMMONED TO THE MFA TO RECEIVE A PROTEST ABOUT SLANDEROUS ALLEGATIONS BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON THE
SUBJECT OF REFUGEES.
6. N.B. THE REFERENCE TO A 7-POINT PROGRAMME
WITH UNHCR IS TO THE DOCUMENT THAT EMERGED AFTER HDE HAAN'S RECENT VISIT (MY TELNO 160) COPIES OF WHICH
HAVE BEEN SENT BY BAG TO THE DEPARTMENT AND UKMIS GENEVA.
FCC PASS SAVING ALL ADDRESSEES
MARGETSON
IPASSED AS REQUESTED]
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRI BUTI ON
COPIES TO:
SEAD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
N AM D
SAD
EID
MVD
OID
IPD
NEWS D
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
(MR WOODFIELD
LONDON
(MR BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR HILLARY
(MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
MR V MCGEE
FAO ODA
CABINET OFFICE
3 -
CONFIDENTIAL