amnesty international
International Secretariat
RECHVAD IN
REGISTRY No.81
17 JUN 1974
TOKKIY/S
53 Theobald's Road London WCIX 8SP
Telephone: 01-404 5831 Telegrams: Amnesty London
A.C. Stuart Esq.,
Hongkong and Indian Ocean Department,
Foreign Office,
London S.W.1.
a.
Dinguidly M're speak
12th June, 1974.
Spoken Govenor He will sea Mr Ennals PIA
on 19 June
Xes
17/6
Dear Mr. Stuart,
As we discussed over the telephone our Secretary-General, Mr. Martin Ennals, would like to discuss with the Governor of Hongkong the fate of the 119 South Vietnamese who are detained in Hongkong and liable to be deported to Saigon. Most of our information is based on newspaper reports from Hongkong and I am enclosing here the relevant newspaper cuttings.
I understand that the Hongkong Government will find it difficult to allow these people to remain permanently in Hongkong; but I think that at least a pledge should be obtained from the South Vietnamese authorities that in the event of their return to Saigon they will be humanely treated.
We are exploring the possibility of asylum for these people in some other countries. We have sent telegrams to our Sections in France, Germany, Holland and Sweden asking them to appeal to their Govern- ments. We have also sent a telegram to the Governor of Macao asking him to grant asylum to these people on humanitarian grounds. It seems that the immigration laws of Macao are more lenient and all that is required is a deposit of HK $2000 for each person in the form of a Bond for good behaviour for a period of two years. We hope to look into this possibility. I think it is vital that any decision to deport these South Vietnamese should be delayed for at least a few weeks.
It was very kind of you to suggest that you may be able to arrange for us to meet the Governor of Hongkong next week.
Yours sincerely,
Chulle
Cheng Huan,
East Asia Department.
ENCL. 3
Chairman of the International Executive: SEAN MACBRIDE, S.C. Secretary General: MARTIN ENNALS
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PATRONS: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Great Britain Roger Baldwin, President of the International League for the Rights of Man, U.S.A. Danilo Dolci, Sicily Professor Erich Fromm, New York and Mexico Lt.-Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks, Great Britain. Jean-Flavien Lalive, Switzer- land Professor Salvador de Madariaga, Spain Yehudi Menuhin, Great Britain Professor Gunnar Myrdal, Sweden
Alan Paton, South Africa. Dr. Martin Niemöller, Germany • Sean MacBride, S.C., Ireland Professor Giorgio La Pira, Italy Professor Julius Stone, Australia
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS (ECOSOC) UNESCO : THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE THE ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES: AND IS RECOGNISED BY THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY