нко 24311
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Colvin, SEAD
моний McHum ....
Mr Footman
Missy Slate
From: PS/Mr Eggar
Date: 11 October 1988
cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Gillmore Mr McLaren HKD
Protocol Dept
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CALL BY THE VIETNAMESE ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER ON MR EGGAR
103
A
He
It
1. Mr Eggar welcomed the Minister and his delegation. said that the refugee problem was of great concern to Hong Kong. HMG looked to the Vietnamese to prevent clandestine departures and was also concerned to return non-refugees. would be an important signal if a start could be made by early agreement to repatriate the 300 volunteers already identified, as a first step towards solving the problem more widely.
2.
Mr Vu Khoan said that the Vietnamese Government also wished to find appropriate solutions and recognised the difficulties in Hong Kong. Complex humanitarian issues were involved and the Vietnamese aim, as practical people, was to solve them step by step. Clandestine departures, for example, could not be cut off immediately. He would also value an exchange on wider issues. He saw an important role for HMG on Cambodia and welcomed increased dialogue with Britain.
3. Mr Eggar stressed the importance HMG attached to both this and the refugee issue. He was confident that progress in both areas would be beneficial to both countries, and to bilateral relations between us. In a brief exchange on the firearms incident at the Vietnamese Embassy he explained HMG's thinking and expressed appreciation for the extent to which the Vietnamese authorities had responded positively. Mr Vu Khoan described the incident as regrettable and welcomed the fact that a satisfactory conclusion had been reached.
نار
Richard Makepeace
CONFIDENTIAL