RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 28130OZ FCO
TELNO 3626
OF 28112OZ SEPTEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY HANOI
RESTRICTED
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG:
MKD 243/15
28 SEP1998
143345
MDHIAN 5579
18
TO
N
Copy Q CIST ?
COMMENTS BY NGUYEN CO
MIPT
THẠCH
1. WE ARE SENDING YOU BY FAX (AND HANOI BY BAG) A COPY OF A REPORT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH NGUYEN CO THACH. THE ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 27 SEPTEMBER.
2.
CO THACH PROVIDES A NUMBER OF INTERESTING ANSWERS BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS IN OCTOBER, THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING. AT PARAGRAPHS 3 AND 4 HE MAKES THE POINT THAT VIETNAM IS PREPARED TO TAKE BACK ITS CITIZENS FROM HONG KONG BUT ADDS THAT SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE NECESSARY. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS IN READING THIS REPORT. HOWEVER, IT DOES SUGGEST THAT REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE IS VERY MUCH IN CO THACH'S MIND AND THAT PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE MIGHT WELL BE A VIETNAMESE OBJECTIVE FOR THE SECOND ROUND.
WILSON
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.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
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FED NEWS
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PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
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