47
GR 230
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
TOP COPY
LAST REF.
REGISTRY No.52
NECT
REF.
14 JUN1974
FM SAIGON 14963ØZ
IKKI4/5
44
CONFIDENTIAL
1974
(39
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 157 OF 14 JUNE INFO TO ROUTINE
HONG KONG
MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 154: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM.
1. I HAVE NOW SEEN HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 652 AND
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 562. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE HAVE GIVEN FAIR ASSURANCES ABOUT TREATMENT
OF THIS GROUP ON RETURN. HOWEVER, I AM RELUCTANT TO
ENDORSE THE PROPOSAL IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM
652. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MOST UNWELCOME TO THE GVN FOR
ANY INTERNATIONAL BODY, LET ALONE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL,
TO BECOME INVOLVED. IN WHAT THEY REGARD AS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR.
THEY WOULD INTERPRET ANY SUCH APPROACH BY US AS CASTING
DOUBTS ON THE HONESTY OF THEIR ASSURANCES. IT IS ALSO
WORTH REMEMBERING THAT EMIGRATION FROM THIS COUNTRY IS
NOT FORBIDDEN PROVIDED THAT THE PROPER PROCEDURES
ARE FOLLOWED. THE YOUNG MEN WHO MAKE UP THE BULK OF
THE GROUP WOULD HOWEVER HAVE FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO
OBTAIN EMIGRATION PERMISSION SINCE THEY WERE ALL OF
MILITARY CALL UP. AGE. THIS IS A COUNTRY AT WAR AND THE
GOVERNMENT POSITION IS THAT ALL ELIGIBLE CITIZENS
MUST STAY AND DO THEIR DUTY.
BUSHELL
FILES
HKIOD
SEAD
M & VD
PS
LEGAL ADVISERS
FS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/MR ENNALS
PS/PUS
MR WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL