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DESKBY 200001Z
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO 191740Z
CONFIEDENTIAL
DESKBY 200001Z
163
RECEIVED REGISTRY No.52 22 JUL 1974
IVICKC 14/5
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 670 OF 19 JULY
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM STUART.
1. LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS HAS ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO STOP OVER IN LONDON ON HIS WAY BACK TO HONG KONG TO DISCUSS THE INTERROGRATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL TO AVOID FURTHER SPECULATION ABOUT THE REASONS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE UK ON THE LINES PUT ABOUT BY BARRYMAINE.
2. THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A REPORT ON THE DEGREE OF INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO MEMBERS OF THE 118 BEFORE THEY WERE RETURNED TO SOUTH VIETNAM. HE WOULD ALSO SAY THAT HE WOULD ENSURE THAT PROPER INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN IN SUBSEQUENT CASES, INCLUDING ANY ILLEGALS RETURNED TO CHINA. AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER,
HE WOULD EMPHASISE THAT INVESTIGATIONS COULD NOT BE UNDULY
PROLONGED IF TROUBLE IN HONG KONG WAS TO BE AVOIDED. GRATEFUL FOR
COMMENTS TO BE PASSED TO THE GOVERNOR BEFORE THE MEETING (DATE UNKNOWN). AND FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU AGREE WITH THIS LINE. GRATEFUL ALSO FOR STATEMENT OF THE LEGAL POSITION. CAN ILLEGALS
BE HELD INDEFINITELY WITHOUT BEING BROUGHT TO COURT OR DID THE
ACTION OVER THE 118 HAVE TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN A FIXED TIME?
CALLAGHAN
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