TNAG-2623-FCO40-3814-Visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-an-1992 — Page 31

6.

CONFIDENTIAL

-3-

Mr Goodlad asked whether he should raise this issue in Hanoi. Mr Strachan mentioned the problems over sending back criminals and the Vietnamese demands for money. Mr Van Leeuwen underlined the need for flexibility. He hoped the Vietnamese would accommodate Hong Kong if specific requests were made, eg for, direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City. Mr Strachan observed that if the US embargo was lifted VMs would be attracted back by US investment in Vietnam. Mr Van Leeuwen said that time was a problem: the longer VMS spent in camps the more difficult it was to resettle them. Unaccompanied minors were the most sensitive issue.

CC

6. J. Derey

Greg Dorey

Private Secretary/Mr Goodlad 8 September 1992

PS/Mr Goodlad

Mr Ricketts, HKD Mr Hewitt, SEAD

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Evans, UND

PS/Governor, Hong Kong

Chancy.

Kund.