23
GRS 690
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 1307ØØZ
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY NO.52
TOP COPY
(28)
13 JUN 1974
NET
REF.
44
HICK 14/5
1974
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 652 OF 13 JUNE/INFO IMMEDIATE
SAIGON,
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 559: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM SOUTH
VIETNAM.
| SHARE THE VIEW THAT THE RISK OF MALTREATMENT ON THE RETURN
TO SOUTH VIETNAM MUST BE CAREFULLY WEIGHED, ALTHOUGH I HOPE THAT
YOU WILL AGREE THAT IT IS ONLY IF THIS RISK IS REAL THAT THE QUESTION OF ASYLUM WHETHER HERE OR ELSEWHERE NEED BE CONSIDERED.
*
2. I HAVE RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CONSUL
GENERAL THAT NOTHING SERIOUS WILL HAPPEN TO THE GROUP. SAIGON
EXPRESSED A SIMILAR VIEW IN THEIR TEL NO 15 OF 6 JUNE. I SEE NO
REASON TO DOUBT THESE ASSURANCES AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT FURTHER ASSURANCES COULD BE SOUGHT FROM THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
GOVERNMENT.
3. ASSUMING THAT THE ASSURANCES PROVIDED ARE ADEQUATE, THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF RETURNING THE WHOLE GROUP TO VIETNAM, ON THE GROUND THAT IT IS NOT IN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS TO ENCOURAGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, SEEM TO US TO BE OVERRIDING.
4. THE FACT THAT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAVE APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS LEAKED HERE. CONSEQUENTLY, IF WE DELAY, IT SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT PUBLIC OPINION WILL BE CRITICAL ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE REGARDED AS PRESSURE BY THE U.K. GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION FOR REASONS OTHER THAN THOSE OF THE INTERESTS OF
HONG KONG,
CONFIDENTIAL
/5. WE