(206)
IKKIY/J
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
Flag A
1.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Lord Goronwy-Roberts has asked about attendance at the trial of the illegal immigrants from South Vietnam.
2. Members of the staff of the Embassy in Saigon will be in court for the trial, as will the Embassy's honorary legal adviser. In view of the allegations that have been made, the Embassy has been asked to provide a full report on the proceedings.
3.
The Ambassador has reported that each of the accused will be required at the opening of the case to confirm his identification and address. Any attempt at substitution would thus become public knowledge and involve connivance among lawyers on a large scale, which he considers highly improbable.
4. The trial has now been postponed as some of the accused have lodged an appeal against the examining magistrate's decision to commit them for trial. Until this appeal has been heard no date can be set for the holding of the trial.
29 August 1974
cc:HKIOD (K243)
Mr Male
r
As
lu.7. Chapman Свартаю
M F Chapman
South East Asian Department
Diswilly
PA
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