TNAG-1788-FCO40-2548-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 136

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Mritin

√257

Mary State

N1

FROM: D H Colvin

DATE: 19 September 1988

CC: PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr McLaren

Mr Willams, UND Mr Hum, HKD

PA

2+3/5 Geow

161

Mr Gillmore PS

UNGA 43: SECRETARY OF STATE'S BILATERAL MEETINGS: VIETNAM

Problem

the

Should the Secretary of State meet Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister in the margins of the UN General Assembly?

1.

Recommendation

2. I recommend such a meeting, if time can be found.

Background and Argument

3. The Vietnamese delegation to this year's UN General Assembly will be led by Second Deputy Vice Foreign Minister (equivalent to Minister of State) Tran Quang Co, an alternate member of the Central Committee. Although small and frail in appearance, Mr Co is described by HMA Hanoi as a heavyweight in the Foreign Ministry and a Cambodia expert.

4.

It is a pity that Foreign Minister Co Thach, whom the Secretary of State has met before, will not be in New York on this occasion. However, I believe that there is enough business to warrant a bilateral meeting if a slot can be found in the Secretary of State's programme. In addition to Cambodia we need to keep up pressure on the Hong Kong boat people. The second round of bilateral talks with the Vietnamese on this subject is due to take place in the week beginning 10 October. The Secretary of State might impress on Tran Quang Co our hope that the Vietnamese will take effective steps to stem the outflow and be more forthcoming over repatriating all boat people screened out as illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, they should take back volunteers without further ado and treat them in a humane fashion.

5. I do not think that the Secretary of State need refer to the recent expulsion of the gun-toting Third Secretary in the Vietnamese Embassy in London. The Vietnamese apologised

MR 3ADT

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