GRS
260
PRIORITY
SYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 171238 Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECHY IN
REGISTRY NO.52
118 JUL 1974
IKKIY/S
1974
123
ivi
IC COPY LUPY
TO FLASH SAIGON TEL NO 19 OF 17 JULY INFO PRIORITY & CO.
FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.
MY TEL NO 18.
(122)
beq
AN A.F.P. REPORT DATELINED SAIGON 17 JULY QUOTES GOVERNMENT
SPOKESMAN AS SAYING,
QUOTE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM HAS GIVEN NO UNDERTAKING EITHER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG OR TO ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT ON THE 118 VIETNAMESE NATIONALS WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTED TO GAIN CLANDESTINE ENTRY INTO HONG KONG AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPATRIATED TO SOUTH VIETNAM UNQUOTE.
2. THE ALLEGED GOVERNMENT
ADDING
STATEMENT APPEARS TO SOFTEN THIS BY
133
QUOTE THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD ONLY GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT THEY WOULD STAND UP FOR A FAIR AND PUBLIC TRIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LETTER OF THE LAW UNQUOTE. HOWEVER THESE REPEATED
DENIALS THAT ANY UNDERTAKINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ARE CASTING DOUBT ON CREDIBILITY OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS AND ANSWERS BY BRITISH MINISTERS IN PARLIAMENT THERE IS STILL INTENSE
PRESS INTEREST HERE.
3. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD
A) CHECK TERMS OF SAIGON STATEMENT AND
(B) IF THIS HAS BEEN ACCURATELY REPORTED SEEK TO IMPRESS ON R.V.N. COVERNMENT THAT REPEATED PUBLIC DENIALS OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANY COMMITMENT IS EMBARRASSING AND DAMAGING TO US BOTH, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN BRITISH, HONG KONG AND VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS ON FOLLOWIN LINES.
CONFIDENTIAL
/QUOTE WHILE