TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 282

Mr Tomkys

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG

1.

From:

RJT McLaren

Date:

Cc:

15 September 1988

Mr Hum, HKD

Mr Colvin, SEAD

Mr Bache, PSD

Mr Crabbie, Finance Dept Protocol Dept

Last month a UK team composed largely of Hong Kong Government officials but including Mr Colvin, of SEAD, went to Hanoi for talks with the Vietnamese Government

on the repatriation of Vietnamese Boat People from Hong Kong. We hope to hold a second round of talks in London in the first half of next month.

2. HM Ambassador has pointed out that the UK team were unable to pay for their accommodation in Hanoi since they were put up in a Government Guesthouse. He has proposed that we should pay for the accommodation of the Vietnamese team (we assume around five people) when they come to London.

3.

Hong Kong Department have made enquiries and have ascertained that no funds are available for this purpose (we do not know the seniority of the leader of the Vietnamese Delegation but it is unlikely that he would be of Ministerial rank). It has, however, been suggested by PSD that it would be perfectly proper for me to pay for the subsistence of the Vietnamese visitors from my travel budget, with the possibility that I might be allocated additional funds at the mid year review.

4. I am not attracted to this way of proceeding but am prepared to contemplate it if we really do have to pay for the Vietnamese (I see no good reason why they should not be accommodated at the Vietnamese Embassy). Do you see any objection to the use of my travel budget in this way should it be necessary?

RJT McLaren