DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM (Development since hijacking incident)

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether there has been any further development in our relations with the Vietnamese Government since the hijacking incident in October 1977.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr S. Rajaratnam): Mr Speaker, Sir, relations between Singapore and Vietnam had developed normally, prior to the hijacking incident in October 1977. As Members will recollect, the Vietnamese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Phan Hien, came to Singapore in July 1976. A delegation from the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce visited Vietnam in April 1977, and this was followed by an economic delegation organised by INTRACO in August. So things were developing smoothly until the hijacking incident which created differences between Singapore and Vietnam.

Of course, we have our respective views on the question of jurisdiction over the hijackers. We, that is, Singapore, still hold to our views and I presume the Vietnamese to theirs. The hijackers have been tried and sentenced.

As of now, I think relations between Singapore and Vietnam are normal. Direct telephone and telex services between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, broken off since April 1975, were resumed on 1st December, 1977. The office of the Import and Export Corporation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Singapore has continued with its routine activities. Our diplomatic representatives in Third World countries maintain regular contact with each other. I expect relations between the two countries to develop along constructive lines in the coming months.