CONFIDENTIAL
127631
MDHOAN 4909
HKB 2+5/5
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 14010OZ HANOI
TELNO 250
OF 13175OZ JULY 89
AND TO DESKBY 14010OZ HONG KONG
YOUR TELNOS 357 AND 359 AND HONG KONG'S TELNO 2351: VIETNAMESE
BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION: DRAFT AGREED MINUTE
1 THE TREASURY HAVE NOW AGREED TO ADVANCE THE NECESSARY FUNDS
FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND. THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR YOU TO SIGN THE MINUTE AS SOON AS IT IS AGREED WITH THE VIETNAMESE, ON THE BASIS OF 1,000 RETURNEES. BUT WE MUST INFORM PARLIAMENT PROMPTLY, AND WE CANNOT EXPEND HMG FUNDS (EVEN ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS) UNTIL WE HAVE DONE SO.
2.
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR HONG KONG'S OFFER TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO MEET THE FULL COST OF THE FIRST EXERCISE, WITH REIMBURSEMENT LATER THIS HELPS TO CLEAR
A WAY FORWARD ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS:
(A) WE CAN ARRANGE FOR THE NECESSARY PQ TO BE TABLED ON 17 JULY (SEE BELOW)
(B) WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONFIRM ON 14 JULY THAT THE PQ WILL BE
TABLED ON 17 JULY. THIS WOULD ENABLE THE FIRST BATCH TO RETURN ON 18 JULY OR THEREAFTER:
(C) WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG WOULD FULLY FUND THE FIRST BATCH (GIVEN TIME CONSTRAINTS THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST PRACTICAL METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR THIS BATCH ANYWAY). WE WILL THEN REIMBURSE OUR CONTRIBUTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER 17 JULY.
3. WE UNDERSTAND HONG KONG'S RESERVATIONS OVER A PQ IN ADVANCE
OF THE FIRST BATCH OF RETURNEES. BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND A WAY AROUND THIS REQUIREMENT. WE HOPE THAT HONG KONG WILL
NEVERTHELESS AGREE THAT THE FOLLOWING IS SUFFICIENTLY VAGUELY WORDED TO BE ACCEPTABLE.
Q. WHAT CONTRIBUTION IS THE UK MAKING TOWARDS THE COST OF THE REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG TO VIETNAM?
A. WE PLAN TO CONTRIBUTE ABOUT PDS 1.3 MILLION IN THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL FOR THIS EXPENDITURE WILL BE SOUGHT IN A WINTER SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE FOR THE FCO: OTHER EXTERNAL RELATIONS VOTE. PENDING THAT APPROVAL, URGENT EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED AT PDS 850,000 WILL BE MET BY A REPAYABLE ADVANCE FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND.
4.
POINTS I AND II OF PARA 6 OF FIRST TUR: WE HAVE ALREADY
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.