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individual returnees and their communities might not be ruled out.
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CO Hum
D
I have discussed this submission with the department in detail and have also spoken to the Governor on the telephone. I support the recommendations.
2.
I am quite clear that we must accept the Vietnamese invitation for talks, and that we should aim to have a first round before the end of this month. But I share Mr Hum's scepticism about the likelihood of early progress. It seems probable that the Vietnamese are more interested in improving their international image and in exploring the possibilities for economic assistance than in negotiating the return of boat people.
3. As regards representation, the Governor has sent me a personal telegram reinforcing his plea that I should lead the team going to Hanoi. In Mr Gillmore's absence I think (and the PUS agrees) that it would cause real difficulties for me to be away from the office for up to a week: there would be no Under-secretary on the Asian side. More substantively, I agree that it would be best for the FCO to be represented at Head of Department level for this first round of discussions, which are bound to be exploratory in nature: there will be no question of "negotiation". But I see no objection to the participation of Mr Clift, nor to his taking the lead as a Senior Grade officer. Indeed, as Mr Hum says, this arrangement could make it easier to ensure that the talks do not stray into wider political issues. I do not think the Vietnamese message will be affected one way or the other: they will presumably say what they have to say whoever we send.
Anfangen
RJT McLaren
7 July 1988
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of Mr Hum's minute
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