IMMEDIATE
FM FCO 1218157
CONFIDENTIAL
PESKEY 1301287
∙1974
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TEL NO 559 OF 17 JUNE/AND TO SAIGON.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 621: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG FROM SOUTH
VIETNAM.
1. THE NORMAL UK RULE IS THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY BOARDED THE SHIP OR AIRCRAFT, BUT THIS
MAY BE VARIED IF THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS A
THIRD COUNTRY THAT IS PREPARED TO TAKE: THEM OR IF THERE ARE GENUINE HUMANITARIAN REASONS AGAINST RETURN.
2. LORD GORONWY-RGPERTS HOPES THAT REMOVAL TO A THIRD COUNTRY
WOULD BE VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED: AND IN PARTICULAR THAT THE
PEOPLE CONCERNED WOULD BE AFFORDED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY
OF FINDING A THIRD COUNTRY WHICH YOU ARE SATISFIED WILL TAKE THEN,
3. HE IS ALSO VERY ANXIOUS THAT ALL POSSIBLE ASSURANCES SICHLD PE
OPTAINED BEFORE RETURN THAT THOSE RETURNED WILL NOT BE EXCESSIVELY PUNISHED. WHEREVER THERE IS REAL HUMANITARIAN REASON FOR NOT
DEPORTING HE HOPES THIS WILL SE ACTED ON. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
BE CONSULTED IN DIFFICULT CASES.
4. IN THE PARTICULAR CASE OF THE 119 CHINESE FROM SOUTH VIETNAM
LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS SAW WR MARTIN ENNALS OF AMNESTY CN 17 JUNE,
MR ENNALS SAID THAT HIS INFORMATION WAS THAT THE GROUP FACED AT
BEST IMPRISONMENT AND AT WORST EXECUTION AND PROBABLY TORTURE
IF THEY WERE RETURNED. AMNESTY WAS ASKING FOR A STAY OF ANY
REMOVAL ORDER SO THAT INDIVIDUAL CASES COULD BE EXAMINED. ON THE QUESTION OF ACCEPTANCE BY THIRD COUNTRIES AMNESTY HAD BEEN IN TOUCH
WITH THE AUSTRALIAN AND SWEDISH GOVERNMENTS AND OTHERS. (WE HAVE
SINCE FEEN CONTACTED BY THE SWEDISH CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ASKING FOR
DETAILS OF THE CASE). NO PROMISES OF ASYLUM HAD YET BEEN MADE,
BUT EMMALS WAS HOPEFUL, PROVIDED THAT TIME COULD BE GIVEN. UNLESS THE 119 HAD BEEN EXAMINED INDIVIDUALLY, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO
BE SURE WHETHER SOME OF THEM MIGHT NOT BE RESISTING MILITARY
SERVICE IN SOUTH VIETNAM ON GENUINE CONSCIENTIOUS GROUNDS, OR HAVE
OTHER VALID REASONS FOR HUMANITARIAN TREATMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5.- LORD GOVE
ניין'