TNAG-0666-FCO40-815-Applications-for-visas-to-Hong-Kong-from-Vietnamese-1978 — Page 33

CONFIDENTIAL

348/1

CD 5 Drace-Francis £sq Government Secretariat HONG KONG

10 November 1977

HKK 345/330/1

BOV1877

See D

14

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3

VISAS FOR VIETNAMESE

1*

Now we

Thank you for your letter of 26 October (SCR 45/64 II). have the debate restarted I will make all the points I can, though I look forward to the comments of the other addressees.

2. Your para 2: it was "last year" that "the Chinese in Hong Kong Cha things have and Canton" made clear their concern about Vietnam. changed in a year? Sad de Hong Kong and Canton always reflect policy in Peking?

3.

The remainder of the references in that paragrich are to Soviets and Taiwan except for the reference to soviet shipping routed via Vietnam. But does not the Gold Star Line, effectively a Vietnamese company, ply

Have the Chinese in Hong Kong regularly between Hong Kong and Vietnam? and Canton objected to them?

i. Your pare 5: We are pre ared to take a risk in allowing a fifth Vieta-mese trade represent tive, and tell the Chinese.

Could we not de

the same with, e.g. the two purchasing representatives from Tocontap (Ministry of Foreign Trade), who have British and Hong Kong as well as other potential suppliers?

5. Your para 6, laat sentence:

I think "relations" should be balanced,

Relations between us and Vietnam

as well as "security and economics", are much more extensive than they were a year ago, and are expanding reasonably fast. The Vietnamese have nominated an Ambass dor to London who may well start to raise this sort of question.

6. All I am asking is that we should somewhat relax our treatment of

Provided the chinesa Vietnam in the light of the developing situation.

knew what was happening they would have a chance to indicate concern.

cc:

G

SEAD

A K Goldsmith Esq PJL Popplewell Esq - Peking

IK E GD J & B Stewart Eɛg 08S

CONFIDENTIAL

Robert Tesh