Mr Male
CONFIDENTIAL
PS to Lord Goronwy-Roberts
The Wilfod c.c. HKIOD✓
8/11
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8D 8/11
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1. Mr Martin Ennals of Amnesty International has written again to Lord Goronwy-Roberts about the illegal immigrants to Hong Kong repatriated to Saigon in June and tried for illegal exit on 29 October. 2. We have now received reports on the trial from the Embassy in Saigon. These go some way to show that Amnesty International's earlier allegations were without foundation. (The allegations were that 14 members of the group died from illness and "injuries" after their return, that 25 men had been sent to front line units without military training, and that the group was "savagely beaten" on their return to Saigon.)
3. I submit a draft reply which sets out to refute the allegations, as far as it is possible to do so, by using the evidence that became available at the trial. It is not possible to refute positively the general assertions about beatings.
Lt.
The draft reply also refers in general terms to Lord Janner's visit to the prison where male members of the group were being held. When Lord Janner called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 29 October, the Minister told him that he would not make reference to his visit without
consulting him first. The Private Secretary to Lord Goronwy-Roberts may wish to clear the reference to the visit with Lord Janner before the letter is despatched; possibly on the telephone.
7 November 1974
CW Squire
South East Asian Department
CONFIDENTIAL