TNAG-2794-FCO40-4034-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1993 — Page 20

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MDHIAN 5811

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FM ATTC TAIPEI

TO DESKBY 22110OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 05

OF 220942Z JUNE 93

AND TO IMMEDIATE FCO

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HONG KONG: FOR POLITICAL ADVISER

zaiver

VISA APPLICATION BY CHAIRMAN AND OFFICIALS OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AFFAIRS

1

WE HAVE JUST TODAY RECEIVED AN URGENT APPLICATION FOR HONG KONG - VISAS FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AFFAIRS AND A NUMBER OF HIS OFFICIALS (LIST BY FAXLOK).

2. THEY WILL BE TRANSITING HONG KONG ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM HANOI WHERE THEY WILL BE HAVING TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON LABOUR MATTERS. THE CHAIRMAN IS, OF COURSE, IN EFFECT THE MINISTER FOR LABOR AND A MEMBER OF THE CABINET. HE MENTIONED TO ME YESTERDAY WHEN I TOOK THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT TO CALL ON HIM THE DIFFICULTIES HE HAD HAD IN THE PAST IN VISITING HONG KONG AND THE NEED FOR HIM TO DO SO NOW. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT MENTION THAT THE TRIP WAS SO IMMINENT AND THE APPROACH TODAY FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS COME WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

3. THEIR PROPOSED ITINERARY IS AS FOLLOWS:

24/6 TAIPEI/HONG KONG

CX531 DPT 1300 ARR 1430

2416 HONG KONG PHANOI

CX791

DPT 1610

ARR 1655

26/6

HANOI/HO CHI MIN

CITY

VN227

DPT 1530

ARR 1730

28/6

29/6

HO CHI MIN CITY/HONG KONG

HONG KONG/TAIPEI

CX764

DPT 1815

ARR 2145

CX400 DPT 1815

ARR 1940

4. I HAVE QUERIED WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WHY THE PARTY NEEDS TO FLY TO HANOI VIA HONG KONG RATHER THAN VIA HO CHI MIN CITY, TO WHICH THERE ARE SEVERAL DIRECT FLIGHTS DAILY FROM TAIPEI. THEY SAY THAT THE HONG KONG OPTION IS MORE CONVENIENT, WHICH A CURSORY GLANCE AT THE TIMETABLE WOULD SUGGEST IS TRUE. FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAY THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS PARTY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME UNOFFICIAL CONTACT WITH THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT ON HOW THEY HANDLE FOREIGN LABOUR MATTERS. THEY SAY

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