CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 08010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1802
OF 07192OZ JULY 88
HKD 243/8
REC
- 8 JUL 1988
CONFIDENTIAL
DES-PRFICEM
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PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS
YOUR TEL NO 2596: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VIETNAMESE PROPOSAL
FOR TALKS
1.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH PROMPTED YOU TO SUGGEST THAT I SHOULD LEAD THE TEAM WHICH GOES TO HANOI. I SHOULD LIKE TO HAVE MET YOUR WISH. BUT IT WOULD MEAN THAT THERE
WOULD BE NO UNDER-SECRETARY ON THE ASIAN SIDE FOR UP TO A WEEK AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER POTS ON THE BOIL (DAVID GILLMORE IS AWAY FOR THE WHOLE OF THE MONTH.). THE PUS SEES REAL DIFFICULTIES IN THIS PROSPECT.
2. MORE SUBSTANTIVELY, I TAKE A SCEPTICAL VIEW ABOUT THE LIKELI- HOOD OF PROGRESS FROM THIS FIRST ROUND AND I AM CONCERNED THAT WE SHOULD NOT RAISE EXPECTATIONS (AMONG THE VIETNAMESE OR IN HONG KONG) UNDULY. THE VIETNAMESE WILL SURELY SAY WHATEVER
THEY HAVE TO SAY WHOEVER WE FIELD.
3. THAT SAID, I ACCEPT THAT HONG KONG MUST BE SEEN TO SEND AN APPROPRIATELY SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE AND I AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR DICK CLIFT TO TAKE THE LEAD, WITH SUPPORT FROM DAVID COLVIN. WE HAVE PUT A RECOMMENDATION IN THIS SENSE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW HIS REACTION, I HOPE IN THE FORM OF A TELEGRAM OF INSTRUCTIONS TO HANOI (SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM YOU), ON 8 JULY.
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MR MCLAREN
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