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PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM SAIGON 060740Z
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTRANO.5
- 7 JUN 974
HIKHIS
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LAST
REF.
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NEXT
REF.
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 15 OF 6 JUNE,/INFO TO PRIORITY
FCO AND ROUTINE PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 683:
VIETNAM.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH
1. ON THE FACTS AS SET OUT IN YOUR TUR, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO FEAR IF THEY
WERE RETURNED. AS WE REPORTED IN THE CASE OF LY HAN (MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 11) THE NORMAL SANCTION AWAITING THE GROUP HERE WOULD BE THE LIABILITY UNDER CIVIL LAW FOR
UP TO ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT FOR LEAVING THE COUNTRY
WITHOUT PERMISSION. IN PRACTICE THE ACTUAL SENTENCE
TO USUALLY LESS THAN ONE YEAR, BUT THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES MIGHT CHOOSE TO BE STERN WITH THIS GROUP TO DISCOURAGE
OTHERS, THERE MIGHT ALSO BE SOME PENALTY FOR MISUSE OF FOREIGN
CURRENCY IF THAT WERE PROVED.
2. AS FAR AS THE MEN OF MILITARY SERVICE AGE ARE CONCERNED
PROVIDING THEY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY DESERTED, THEY WOULD NOT ATTRACT ANY SPECIAL SANCTION, THOUGH THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE DRAFTED ON RETURN, AND MIGHT RECEIVE EXTRA FATIGUES FOR THEIR ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE DRAFT.
3 (HONG KONG ONLY) GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD SEND US COPY
OF YOUR REPLY TO STUART'S LETTER HKK 14/5 OF 28 JANUARY AND INFORM US WHAT DECISION WAS FINALLY TAKEN IN THE CASE OF
LY HAN,
FILES
HKIOD
SEAD
FED
M & VD
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR WILFORD
MR MALE
CONFIDENTIAL
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