CONFIDENTIAL
27 February 1992
The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, GCMG Government House Hong Kong
90/144121/4
COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CDC)
In my letter of 12 July, 1990, I reported to you that John Eccles, Chief Executive of the CDC, had suggested over dinner that the Hong Kong Government might like to consider investing in a primary product project in Vietnam.
As you will see from the attached correspondence, CDC are still pursuing this possibility, though now somewhat refined and directed towards the reintegration of returning Vietnamese.
No doubt CDC feel that such an approach would be attractive to us as part of the various multilateral and bilateral reintegration efforts. However, I have no idea as to whether such an approach would fit in with all these other efforts and whether it would be an attractive proposition for the Hong Kong Government - and Finance Committee.
In due course we can expect an approach from CDC, either direct to Hong Kong or possibly via this Office as John Eccles is one of our contacts.
My immediate problem is how should I reply to George Foulkes' letter. I should be grateful for a line to take. I suppose I could just say that this is an interesting proposal which we will consider further if and when CDC approach us.
FCO.
A copy of this, together with attachments, goes to Peter Ricketts in the
(John Yaxley) COMMISSIONER