PRIORITY
CRS 35ЯA
CYPHER CAT A
FM FCO 011745Z
LAST
CONFIL SNTIAL
(HK)
(82)
786
188)
(175)
CONFIDENTIAL
1974
TO PRIORITY SAIGON TELNO 183 OF 1 AUG.AND TO BANGKOK INFO HONG KONG
TRIAL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RETURNED TO VIETNAM FROM HONG KONG:
VISIT BY MR SANGUINETTI.
1. MARTIN ENNALS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, HAS WRITTEN TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS TO SAY THAT A J J SANGUINETTI, HONG KONG LAWYER AND BRITISH SUBJECT, HAS AGREED TO ATTEND THE TRIAL OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RETURNED FROM HONG KONG TO SAIGON ON 17 JUNE, HE HAS ADVISED SANGUINETTI, WHO IS AT PRESENT ON A PRIVATE VISIT TO BANGKOK, TO CONTACT THE EMBASSY IN BANGKOK TO ASK IF FCO WILL QUOTE FACILITATE UNQUOTE HIS VISIT TO VIETNAM, SANGUINETTI WILL BE AT SURIWONGSE HOTEL, BANGKOK, UNTIL ABOUT 6 AUGUST. HE WILL THEN GO TO CAICON, WHERE QUOTE EVEN IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO OBSERVE THE TRIAL HE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE THE DEPORTED SOUTH VIETNAMESE UNQUOTE, 2. IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING INTEREST IN THIS CASE, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF BANGKOK WOULD ASSIST SANGUINETTI AS NECESSARY WITH E.G. VISA FORMALITIES AND ALSO SUGGEST THAT HE CONTACT HM EMBASSY ON ARRIVAL IN SAIGON, ENNALS ALSO ASKED WHETHER SANGUINETTI MIGHT BE MET AT SAIGON AIRPORT: WE DO NOT THINK THIS NECESSARY BUT LEAVE IT TO SAIGON'S DISCRETION AND WOULD ASK THEM TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO MEET ANY REASONABLE REQUESTS FOR HELP,
(FOR SAIGON: YOUR TELNO 286 OF 29 JULY)
3. IN HIS REPLY TO MR ENNALS, LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS WILL PROBABLY REFER TO SOUTH VIETNAMESE STATEMENT OF 30 JULY. WE ASSUME THAT
THIS WAS ISSUED IN FORM AGREED,
(FOR BANGKOK)
4. BACKGROUND TO THIS CASE IS AS FOLLOWS,
118 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM, ARRESTED ON 2 JUNE, WERE REPATRIATED ON 17 JUNE (DESPITE REPRESCITATIONS MADE ON THEIR REHALF BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND OTHERS), FOLLOWING OFFICIAL VIETNAMESE ASSURANCES THAT THE GROUP WOULD NOT BE HARSHLY TREATED, EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 7 CHILDREN, MIO HAVE DERN UNCONDITIONALLY KELENGE
CONFIDENTIAL.
/ THE CROUP