$20
IMMEDIATE
HER/CAT A
FM FCO 9818192 JUL
RESTRICTED
DESKBY 0900017 JUL TO ALL
RECEIVED IN REGISTE Da, ⠀1
- 9 JUL 1974
HKKI4|5
14
(HK)
1974
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 630 OF 8 JUL/AND TO IMMEDIATE
SAIGON,
*
LAST
RE:
.EXT
A
1@6 qu
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION:
FROM HKIOD,
93
ILLEGAL HINGRATS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM.
1. NR. JAMES JOHNSON MP HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER ON 19 JULY, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT COMMUNICATION HE
HAD FROM THE ACTING GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG CONCERNING THE DEPORTATION
OF 119 OVERSEAS CHINESE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAD SOUGHT SANCTUARY IN HONG KONG ON 17 JUNE ON THEIR WAY TO (SIC) SAIGON: AND
WHAT ASSURANCES THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH.
VIETNAM,
2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND A REPLY ON THE FOLLOWING LINCS:
QUOTE THE GOVERNOR INFORMED ME BY TELEGRAM THAT ON 2 JUNE A
LOCALLY REGISTERED FISHING JUNK WAS INTERCEPTED IN COLONY WATERS
AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE ON BOARD 119 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, ALL OF
CHINESE DESCENT, FROM SOUTH VIETNAM. ALL BUT ONE WERE RETURNED TO
SOUTH VIETNAM ON 17 JUNE, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT CAVE
ASSURANCES IN HONG KONG THAT NOTHING SERIOUS WOULD HAPPEN TO THE
GROUP STUCE THEY WOULD BE TREATED AS INNOCENT VICTIMS OF THE
SYNDICATE WHICH HAD SHUGGLED THEM OUT OF VIETNAM, THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMED THESE ASSURANCES IN LONDON
4 JULY IN CONVERSATION WITH MY HON FRIEND THE MINISTER OF STATE
UNQUOTE.
ON
3. GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS BY 0949GCZ.
4. WHEN TR, HATTERSLEY RECEIVED MR. DAC ON 4 JULY (MY TELNO, 89 TO SAIGON) THE LATTER CONFIRMED HE HAD NO OBJECTION TO A PUBLIC
REFERENCE TO HIS ASSURANCES.
CALI, AGHAM,
FILES
HKIOD
SEAD
M & V D
FED
PARLIAMENTARY UNIT
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/MR HATTERSLEY
MR MALE
RESTRICTED