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In the case of LEUNG Pak-kin and others we accept that they
may be liable to disciplinary action by the authorities in South Vietnam if they are sent back there and that it may well be more difficult for them to make a second attempt to enter Hong Kong from South Vietnam than from Taiwan. However, in the light of the recent advice from Saigon in paragraph 5 of Saigon's telegram 11 of 19th March copied to you for information, we do not feel that the consequences to those concerned would be sufficiently serious to warrant a change in our usual policy.
For these reasons we remain of the opinion that the particular problems of Hong Kong in dealing with well established channels of illegal entry from most of its neighbouring South East Asian territories make it important for us to preserve our position in removing illegal immigrants to their country of origin, except where there are overriding objections on genuine compassionate or humanitarian grounds. Such grounds would not include the prospect of suffering the legal consequences for their illegal exit from the country of origin, other than where there were definite indications that such consequences would be likely to include capital or other extremely harsh punishment.
These rather general comments are intended to acquaint you with our present thinking and as part of the process of informal pre-consultation to which you prefer in your letter.
Чильт
fair.
(kun ever
(L. M. Davies)
Secretary for Security
CONFIDENTIA