*
葉
錫恩
(MRS.) E. ELLIOTT.
TEL. 3-422414
OUR
REF:
YOUR
REF:
L/1155/74
-1 JUL 1974
WKKIY/S
55, Kung Lok
Kwun Tong,
20th. June, 1974.
KOWLOON.
The Acting Governor,
Government House,
Hong Kong.
Dear Sir,
rc 20-
NIA FCO
I should like to enter a plea on behalf of the 22 persons, relatives of refugees from Vietnam, that the charges against them may be dropped.
These 22 persons are charged with entering a restricted area, and two of them are charged with assaulting police. They are due to appear in court on 28th. June, 1974, and they will probably not be represented, unless friends can raise money for their defence.
I have spoken to some of these accused, and am convinced that they had no intention of breaking any regulations, but that in their desperation and worry, they may not even have realised what they did. As to the alleged assault on police, it appears to me that the relatives themselves are the injured persons, and at least one injuryd (that to Mr. Smith of the Police) was most likely to have injured his hand in wielding his baton - I believe the split between the finger and thumb would suggest this.
The relatives of the deportees had no weapons and no intention of exerting violence.
The British have a reputation based on the cliche "British Justice". I have to admit that I have not seen this quality on display in the Colony of Hong Kong, though I am sure that Mr. Godber in Britain is banking his future on it. The same standards to not apply to working-class Chinese here in Hong Kong. As a Britisher who would like to maintain our standards for all, I would say that these relatives, whatever law they may or may not have broken, were acting in desperation, the same way in which any human being would react in a moment of fear that his kith and kin will be exposed to serious danger. What man would not try everything in his power to rescue his wife and child from a situation which will separate them forever from one another? What young man of 19 will not take any drastic steps he can to save his one and only relative, a seventeen-year-old sister whose family is dead and brothers killed in Vietnam? These are the circumstances behind some of the persons charged with illegal entry into a restricted area. They were like wild persons making a last desperate attempt to save their nearest and dearest. Does British compassion not stretch to so much understanding, or have we become hard-headed money graspers without sense of justice or compassion?
You have assured me, Sir, that life is not in danger in returning these refugees to Vietnem. I should say those assurances were political and diplomatic, rather than realistic. I personally have remained silent on the Vietnam war for many years because speaking would do no good. But this war is having its effects on Hong Kong and I can no longer remain silent. There is ample evidence that the Vietnam Government will stop at nothing to root out any who are not prepared to fight against the Vietcong. First-hand evidence is as indisputable as evidence of Belsen in World War 11.
cc. P.M.
Çan mercy be shown, please?
Wilson
P.M. Harold
Yours sincere's
5. Anoth