RESTRICTED
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02015
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176177
MDHIAN 5811
RESTRICTED
FM ATTC TAIPEI
TO DESKBY 22110OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 05
OF 220942Z JUNE 93
AND TO IMMEDIATE FCO
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG KONG: FOR POLITICAL ADVISER
zaiver
VISA APPLICATION BY CHAIRMAN AND OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AFFAIRS
1
WE HAVE JUST TODAY RECEIVED AN URGENT APPLICATION FOR HONG KONG - VISAS FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AFFAIRS AND A NUMBER OF HIS OFFICIALS (LIST BY FAXLOK).
2. THEY WILL BE TRANSITING HONG KONG ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM HANOI WHERE THEY WILL BE HAVING TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON LABOUR MATTERS. THE CHAIRMAN IS, OF COURSE, IN EFFECT THE MINISTER FOR LABOR AND A MEMBER OF THE CABINET. HE MENTIONED TO ME YESTERDAY WHEN I TOOK THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT TO CALL ON HIM THE DIFFICULTIES HE HAD HAD IN THE PAST IN VISITING HONG KONG AND THE NEED FOR HIM TO DO SO NOW. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT MENTION THAT THE TRIP WAS SO IMMINENT AND THE APPROACH TODAY FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS COME WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
3. THEIR PROPOSED ITINERARY IS AS FOLLOWS:
24/6 TAIPEI/HONG KONG
CX531 DPT 1300 ARR 1430
2416 HONG KONG PHANOI
CX791
DPT 1610
ARR 1655
26/6
HANOI/HO CHI MIN
CITY
VN227
DPT 1530
ARR 1730
28/6
29/6
HO CHI MIN CITY/HONG KONG
HONG KONG/TAIPEI
CX764
DPT 1815
ARR 2145
CX400 DPT 1815
ARR 1940
4. I HAVE QUERIED WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WHY THE PARTY NEEDS TO FLY TO HANOI VIA HONG KONG RATHER THAN VIA HO CHI MIN CITY, TO WHICH THERE ARE SEVERAL DIRECT FLIGHTS DAILY FROM TAIPEI. THEY SAY THAT THE HONG KONG OPTION IS MORE CONVENIENT, WHICH A CURSORY GLANCE AT THE TIMETABLE WOULD SUGGEST IS TRUE. FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAY THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS PARTY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME UNOFFICIAL CONTACT WITH THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT ON HOW THEY HANDLE FOREIGN LABOUR MATTERS. THEY SAY
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