TNAG-1908-FCO40-2712-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 191

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Mr Gillmor

H. Mc Laren

Mr Millington FET) Mr Paul HUD

To see Soys's Comment

1

CONFIDENTIAL

FIDENTIAL

PS/M

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Thankigon, I have shown there to the Sepeting of State

From: PS/Mr Maude

مسلمان

1989 the

Date: 3 November 1989

Cc:

agrees

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with Mr Mande

handled this)

Mr Millington

FED

HK.B 24319

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TRAINING OF PLA NAVY TECHNICIANS ON MOD PROPERTY

1. Mr Maude spoke to Mr Alan Clark on the telephone this afternoon. He repeated his view that the visit should not go ahead: we wanted to maintain a tough stance on relations with China against the possibility of being able to use a relaxation of the EC-wide position as a bargainingchip in negotiations on constitutional development in Hong Kong.

2.

Mr Clark responded robustly. The Chinese technicians would not attract attention; there would only be 12 of them, dressed in civilian clothese, in Southampton. The research measurement radar equipment involved was not military. To Mr Maude's suggestion that there were plenty of other places where such training could be provided, Mr Clark said that anywhere else would involve Home Office approval; there would be cost consequences; the training was to start on Monday; Plessey might be ruled in breach of contract. Above all he emphasised that the visit would not attract publicity and that it would be de minimis. It was not an inter-governmental visit. We would annoy the Chinese for no reason.

3.

Mr Maude finally said that we would not insist on opposing this training. He turned to the question of the repatriation of Vietnamese boat people and asked Mr Clark to reconsider providing a VC10. The cost of each operation as given by the MOD must be an exaggeration. Mr Clark agreed that £350,000 did not sound right. He agreed to take up the question of providing an RAF aircraft with other Defence Ministers on Tuesday.

Herwell

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Martin Howard Sec(0)(c) Nicola Brawer

·RAM

Miss Massen Mr Major M16/11 x/ Mr Shake

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11

116/11

5

Nicola Brewer

Private Secretary to Mr Francis Maude

CONFIDENTIAL