TNAG-0559-FCO40-654-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-othe-1975 — Page 68

SEPARATELY IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR TELNO. 672 OF 2 SEPTEMBER.

AT MEETING WITH POLITICAL ADVISER, PRG DELEGATION SAID THAT THEIR POLICY WAS TO FORGET THE PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE'' AND THAT COMMUNICATIONS BY AIR COULD BE IMPORTANT IF TRADE DEVELOPED.

(C) ON DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY HONG KONG RESIDENTS WISHING TO LEAVE SAIGON, DELEGATION STATED CATEGORICALLY THAT PRG 'DID NOT INTEND TO KEEP FOREIGNERS AGAINST THEIR WILL' AND THEY HAD ALREADY MADE THIS, CLEAR IN DISCUSSIONS WITH HONG KONG CITIZENS

LOCALLY (INCLUDING DR. DENNY HUANG. THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT

IT WAS NOW POSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG RESIDENT TO FLY VIA BANGKOK TO HONG KONG. THEY IMPLIED THAT FRENCH SUBJECTS MIGHT BE TAKING UP MOST OF THE PLANE SEATS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, AND THAT DIRECT AIR COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SAIGON AND HONG WOULD MAKE RETURN VERY MUCH

EASIER.

3. FULL RECORD FOLLOWS BY BAG.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

SEAD

1

HKIOD

FED

MTD

PUSD

PPD

CONSULAR DEPT

MVD

LEGAL ADVISERS

GIPD

IRD

NEWS DEPT

PS

PS TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

PS TO PUS

SIR D WATSON'

MR MALE

MR WILTON

+

2

CONFIDENTIAL