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distinct from extradition cases, is generally to allow illeg immigrants to go on to a third country that will take them, particularly if they run any risk of punishment if they retur to their own countries. This has recently been confirmed, for example in the case of the Chilean students. Morcover it has not generally been thought relevant that the third country to which they wish to go, may have been chosen with a view to slipping back again into the U.K. A decision last year to allow a l'akistani girl to go to the Republic of Ireland is a case in point.
5. By contrast Hong Kong have generally insisted on return to the country of origin. Until recently they were able to maintain this harder line without adverse publicity. At the end of last year, however, strong representations were made to HMG by Amnesty International, Justice and Mrs Judith Hart MP, on behalf of LIUNG Pak-kin, a South Vietnamese draft-dodger who entered llong Kong illegally. The Hong Kong Government eventually, but reluctantly, agreed to alloy him to go to Taiwan, for which he held a visitor's visa. (ebrils
of Leung's case, and of two other cases which are still pending, are annexed to this submission). Amnesty can be expected to make further representations in similar cuses in the future. They have recently written to enquire about Hong Kong's official policy towards illegal immigrants from South Vietnam and are awaiting a definitive reply.
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6. The problem is a difficult one for Hong Kong. cannot afford to become a haven for refugees. They are already in substantial difficulties with immigration from China, which strains their social services. At the same time there are throughout South-East Asia and particularly in Vietnam, large numbers of people of Chinese origin who would
CONFIDENTIAL
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