GRS 197
CYPHER CAT A
RESTRICTED
RECEIVED IN
TOP COPY
REGISTRY No.52
FM SAIGON 160235Z
17 JUL1974
RESTRICTED
1-1
1
VII/5
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 24 OF 16 JULY 1974 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION ROUTINE TO FCO
MY TELNO 179 TO FCO
REPATRIATED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
1.
(122)
GENERAL BINH, CHIEF OF NATIONAL POLICE, GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 13 JULY. HE COMMENTED PRIMARILY
ON POLICE SUCCESS IN UNRAVELLING THE ORGANISATION INVOLVED, BUT WAS ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT HE KNEW OF NO ASSURANCES GIVEN TO ANY GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE FATE OF THE GROUP
NONE OF THE TEXTS AVAILABLE TO US CONTAIN THIS LATTER
BUT THE VERNACULAR PRESS HAS NOW REPORTED REACTION
THE DAILY
OF 118.
COMMENT.
FROM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO THIS STATEMENT.
''HOA BINH STATES THAT A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN
SAID THAT HIS GOVERNMENT ** HAD RECEIVED OFFICIAL ASSURANCES FROM SAIGON AND THE RVM CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG THAT THE 118 PEOPLE WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT AND WILL BE FAIRLY TRIED ON A CHARGE OF ILLEGAL EXIT. THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SO FAR NO VIOLATION OF THE ASSURANCE HAS BEEN NOTICED'',
2. 1 RAISED THIS SUBJECT LAST NIGHT WITH HOAN, EFFECT! VELY
THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER. HE COMMENTED THAT HE PERSONALLY FOUND IT SATISFACTORY THAT HONG KONG SHOULD
HAVE MADE A STATEMENT IN THESE TERMS.
BUSHELL
FILES
HKIOD
SEAD
MVD
MID
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MALE
DEFENCE D
NEWS D
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/PUS
MR WILFORD
SIR D WATSON
GIPD
RESTRICTED