CONFIDENTIAL
124)
Mr Male
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG FROM SOUTH VIETNAM
lag (12) 1.
Flag B
$16
It seems from Hong Kong telno. 19 to Saigon, as well as from Saigon telno. 24 to Hong Kong, that the South Vietnamese are continuing the process of publicly watering down and even denying the assurances which they gave to the Hong Kong Government and to the Ambassador in Saigon before the illegal immigrants were returned. HMG relied on these assurances in agreeing to the return and they have since been referred to in Parliament. It is necessary first that the Saigon Government should acknowledge
clearly that these assurances were given, and second that there
should not be another further dilution of their content. The
Hong Kong Government have asked Saigon to approach the South Vietnamese Government. I think we need to reinforce this request with instructions to our Ambassador to remind the South Vietnamese
of the wording of their assurances. He should also make it clear
that we expect them to acknowledge the assurances and to honour
them.
2.
The South Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Mr Bac, is coincidentally passing through London on a private visit. SEAD have spoken to the South Vietnamese Embassy on the lines of the attached draft telegram. This will doubtless be passed to Mr Bac. But we should also make sure that our disquiet is made clear to the South Vietnamese Government itself.
3.
with SEAD.
I accordingly submit a telegram which has been agreed
17 July 1974
CC
PS/Mr Hattersley PS/PUS
Sir D Watson
Mr Wilford
Mr Squire, SEAD
Mr McCaffrey, News Dept.
a we
Can face para 5?
Yes, indeed. peether # deep
bs po
sting them
laque
ACSES
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
must be nailed.
a maja factor
سعر
10 moete
about effect of any
not wh
Custome
on
dilalımı
q
the Got 9/5. Vietnam
Their assuances
decision.
in der
PutMah
egard
cheat thon
coment
Intere CONFIDENTIAL ach co
1777
whe
ation differnthas
t-
Confedame
Goronwy - Roberts
S.V. Look.
Lant
1. 1817