TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 257

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Я бы

N 2919

MA

MKD 243/15

-40CT 1988

Mr McLaren

FROM: D H Colvin

South East Asian Department

DATE: 27 September 1988

cc: Mr Tomkys

Mr Hum, HKD

Mr Bache, PSD

Mr Crabbie, Finance Dept Protocol Department

Mr Godson

HONG KONG BOAT PEOPLE: BILATERAL IN LONDON: HOTEL BILLS FOR VIETNAMESE DELEGATION

1.

You recently exchanged minutes (attached) with Mr Tomkys about our finding money for the hotel bills of the Vietnamese delegation which is due to come here for talks on 11/12 October.

2.

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As you know (Hanoi telno 343), our Embassy has been told that Vietnamese acceptance of the talks in London was dependent on satisfactory arrangements for travel and accommodation. The Vietnamese Ambassador called on me this afternoon on instructions to establish whether "our British friends" could not find their way to help. Hung was careful to avoid saying that the fate of the talks depended on our finding some money but I fear that this could turn out to be the case in practice.

3.

After much to-ing and froing, I eventually agreed to take advice on whether we might be able to meet the cost of bed and breakfast at a London hotel for three nights for a delegation of up to three Vietnamese. I made it clear that this was highly exceptional and indeed I could hold out no promise that we would agree. I also brushed aside Hung's tentative suggestion that we might find the airfare to boot: I established that Air Vietnam flies to Prague and East Berlin so there was no reason why the Vietnamese should not get to those destinations free of charge. I also rubbed home the point that the sooner Vietnam got its economy in order, by withdrawing its troops from Cambodia and composing its differences with its regional neighbours over boat people, the sooner Vietnam would be able to avoid an empty Treasury back home.

4.

Against this background, I recommend that we meet the cost of the hotel for a delegation of up to three for up to three nights; and furthermore, as Mr Tomkys suggests, that

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