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3. IF HAN LEFT VIETNAM WHILE TEMPORARILY EXEMPT FROM MILITARY SERVICE ON HEALTH GROUNDS, THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR VIEW IS THAT HE WOULD BE TREATED AS A DRAFT DODGER AND WOULD BE SEDRAFTED AND PROBABLY PUT ON HEAVY DUTIES, BUT WOULD RECEIVE NO OTHER PENALTY.
IF THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES SHOWED NO INTEREST IN HAN, HE WOULD STILL BE LIABLE UNDER THE CIVIL LAW FOR LEAVING VIETNAM WITHOUT PERMISSION. THIS OFFENCE CARRIES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT PLUS A FINE. ACAIN, THE ACTUAL SENTENCE AWARDED WOULD DEPEND UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS LEAVING.
*
5.
1 REGRET THAT WE CANNOT BE MORE SPECIFIC WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS. IF HAN IS UNWILLING TO FURNISH THEM, OR HIS VERSION IS SUSPECT, WE SHALL MAKE FURTHER ENQUIRIES HERE., BUT IT COULD BE EMBARRASSING FOR US IF, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE TO DECIDE NOT TO RETURN HAN SIMPLY BECAUSE HE FACED THE PENALTY THAT ALL VIETNAMESE FACE FOR AVOIDING
COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. IT WOULD ALSO,
AS YOU SAY (PARAGRAPH 4 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 307), ENCOURAGE OTHER YOUNG VIETNAMESE TO SEEK
REFUCE IN HONG KONG.
HUNT
FILES
HKI O D
FED
MR WILFORD MR YOUDE
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