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FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 108
OF 190103Z FEBRUARY 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONH
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HKA 020 /14
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AND TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, UKREP BRUSSELS
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MIPT: FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT IN ENGLISH AS RECEIVED TODAY (18 FEB) OF A LETTER FROM NGUYEN DI NIEN, DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
TO LORD CAITHNESS.
BEGINS:
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR TWO LETTERS TO ME WHICH DATED JANUARY 22ND AND 31ST, 1992 RESPECTIVELY AND THE MESSAGE ON SHEK KONG INCIDENT HANDED ME BY THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR ON FEBRUARY 6, 1992.
WE HIGHLY APPRECIATE YOUR RECENT VISIT TO VIETNAM AND HOPE THAT YOUR TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE LEADERS WOULD HELP FURTHER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS. YOU HAVE ALSO HAD OPPORTUNITY FOR A BETTER GRASP OF THE PRESENT SITUATION IN VIETNAM AS WELL AS THE ALL-ROUND RENOVATION THAT THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE AND STATE ARE UNDERTAKING VIGOROUSLY. YOU HAVE ALSO VISITED QUANG NINH PROVINCE AND SEEN WITH YOUR OWN EYES THE LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE REPATRIATES FROM HONG KONG AND EXAMINED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROJECTS ASSISTED BY THE BRITISH NGO'S AND PROJECTS UNDER THE REPATRIATION AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAMME OF THE EEC.
WE TOO, DEEPLY MOVED OVER THE FINE WORDS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT OUR COUNTRY AND ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO EXTEND FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO AREAS WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE LEFT FOR HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO STABILIZING THEIR NEW LIFE AND, IN ADDITION, TO HELP VIETNAM NORMALIZE ITS RELATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND MONETARY INSTITUTIONS AND CAMPAGIN FOR MORE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPEMNT ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAM.
VIETNAM, NOW AS IN THE PAST, WISHES TO DO AWAY ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH THE ROOT-CAUSES OF THE ILLEGAL DEPARTURES OF VIETNAMESE FOR HONG KONG AND OTHER COUNTRIES - AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE OUT OF OUR WILL. WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE THOSE SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES REMAINING IN HONG KONG CAMPS, ON THE BASIS
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