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Mr Stone 224+
Mr Hgowen
гондвичи
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J W Guy
South East Asian Dept 16 January 1990 PS/Mr Maude
PS/Lord Brabazon
Mr McLaren
Hong Kong Dept
Finance Dept
COD
HKB 243 15
RECEIVED IN
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2 1FEB 1990
REGISTR.
Action Takei
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
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1.
The Secretary of State asked for explanation of following:-
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(a) the delay in paying resettlement assistance to the Vietnamese for the first involuntary repatriation;
(b) the time taken for the texts of the debate on 19 December to reach Hanoi.
2. Finance Department paid the resettlement assistance, through the Bank of England, into the designated Vietnamese account at the Midland Bank as agreed on 8 December. The delay occurred because Midland Bank failed to inform the Vietnamese that the money had been paid into their account. They have written to apologise. Mr Davies has recommended that future payments should be made through the Embassy in Hanoi. We shall do so.
3. Hanoi do not have a fax machine and lengthy texts which would ordinarily be copied by this means, must be sent to them by bag. In the case of the 19 December debate, at Mr Davies' request, we telegraphed the texts of ministers' statements. It was inpracticable to telegraph the entire debate. Mr Davies subsequently submitted a formal request for a fax machine. COD confirm that two machines will be sent as soon as the post has provided the necessary voltage and other technical details.
MR2ALO
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J W Guy