GRS 140
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.52
24 JUN1974
FM SAIGON 210908Z
PKK 14
CONFIDENTIAL
63
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NUMBER 169 OFF 21 JUNE 1974. REFEATED FOR INFORMATION IMMEDIATE HONG KONG.
MY TELEGRAM NO 167: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
LAST
REF
NEW
REF.
J.. HOAN HAS NOW INFORMED ME THAT THESE 118 PEOPLE INCLUDE ELEVEN DESERTERS. NONE OF THEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WHILE THEY WERE STILL IN HONG KONG. NONE OF THEM APPEARS TO HAVE ADMITTED THEIR POSITION TO THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES.
?. HOAN FURTHER SAID THAT THE WORD TRANSLATED AS INSUBORDINATE''
HAD NO POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE. IT SHOULD BE TAKEN AS
INDICATING PEOPLE WHO TENDED TO LIVE ON THE MARGIN OF THE LWA, SOMETHING LIKE SHARP BOYS.
3. COMMENT.
IT MAY WELL BE THAT THE ARMY CENTRAL AUTHORITIES WERE IN FACT UNAWARE THAT THESE NEN HAD DESERTED UNTIL THEY WERE INTERVIEWED IN SAIGON. HENCE IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE TO SAY THAT THEY HAD NO CRIMINAL RECORD.
BUSHELL
PILES
HKI OD
M V D
SEAD
FED
PRIVATE SECRETARY
P.S./LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
P.S./MR ENNALS
P.S./PUS
MR SCOTT
MR ASPIN
CONFIDENTIAL