26
MEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
GRPS 650
FM FCO 181130Z
CONFIDENTIAL
SONFIDENTIAL
r
JRECE
19 JUL 974
143 52
IEF.
T (123)
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TO IMMEDIATE SAIGON TELNO 96 OF 18 JULY 74 INFO IMMEDIATE HONG
KONG.
HONG KONG TEL TO YOU NO 19: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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1. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ASSURANCES FROM THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON WHICH WE RELIED IN AGREEING TO THE RETURN OF THE
119 TO VIETNAM.
(A) DRAFT DODGERS DID NOT FACE DEATH PENALTY ON RETURN OR ANYTHING LIKE IT (HONG KONG TELNO 621 QUOTING VIETNAMESE CONSUL-GENERAL)
•
(B) NO SEVERE PUNISHMENT AWAITS THE CROUP (HONG KONG TELNO 647 QUOTING CONSUL-GENERAL).
(C) NOTHING SERIOUS SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE GROUP, SINCE THEY
WILL BE CONSIDERED AS INNOCENT VICTIMS OF THE SMUGGLING SYNDICATE (HHONG KONG TELMO 648 QUOTING CONSUL-GENERAL)
(") THE VIETNAMESE CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG HAD SEOKEN UNDER
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE DUE PROCESSES OF LAW WOULD BE CARRIED OUT: THESE DID NOT INCLUDE EXECUTION OR TORTURE, THE ONLY PERSONS WHO WOULD INCUR SEVERE PENALTIES WOULD BE THE ORGANISERS OF THE SMUGGLING SYNDICATE
39) (SAIGON TELNO 154 QUOTING ASSISTANT FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN
VIETNAMESE MFA).
2. SINCE THE GROUP'S RETURN THERE HAS BEEN MR BAC'S STATEMENT
89) AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL TO MR HATTERSLEY (MY TELMO 89) THAT HE
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COULD GIVE STRAIGHT AWAY AN ASSURANCE THAT THE 118 WHO HAD VIOLATED THE IMMIGRATION/EMIGRATION LAWS WOULD HAVE A TRIAL IN OPEN
COURT AND WOULD NOT BE HARSHLY PUNISHED. WOMEN AND DRAFT DODGERS
IN PARTICULAR WOULD BE TREATED LIGHTLY.
3. DESPITE THESE ASSURANCES THERE HAS BEEN A PROGRESSIVE TENDENCY TO WATER DOWN THEIR EFFECT AND EVEN TO DENY THERE EXISTENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS THE STORY IN LE MONDE OF 23 JUNE (MY TELNO 86) THAT QUOTE THE BRITISH HAD NOT IMPOSED CONDITIONS FOR THE REPATRIATION OF THE FUGITIVES AND HAD
PARTICULARLY RECEIVED NO ASSURANCE THAT REPRESSIVE MEASURES WOULD NOT BE TAKEN AGAINST THER UNQUOTE. THEN THERE IS THE
CONFIDENTIAL
/ REPORT IN
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