Mr Chapman
354
ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS
1. Amnesty International (Stephanie Grant 4045831) rang this morning with a number of questions about the trial of the group of 118.
2. I confirmed that members of Chancery attended the proceedings and told her that there were more than 50 defence lawyers.
3. "The Times" carries a UPI report today which says that only 2 of the 118 were not sentenced. Amnesty's records show that there were more than 2 children in the group. I told Miss Grant that we were expecting a full report from the Embassy in Saigon and that this point would no doubt be covered in it, as would details of the prisoner who is reported to have died.
4.
Miss Grant was puzzled about numbers, in particular about how many of the deportees had
I previously been unconditionally discharged. told her that we would come back to her on this point later on.
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5. Miss Grant said that Amnesty International had received a letter from either the Director of Immigration in Hong Kong or someone in his department which said that 11 members of the group "had a possible claim to entry to Hong Kong if they had applied through the normal official channels" Miss Grant wanted to know whether those who fell in this category could now apply for entry to Hong Kong with a prospect of success. By copy of this minute, I am asking Mr Dinwiddy of HKIOD for an answer to pass on to Miss Grant on this point. (If HKIOD prefer to speak to her direct, I should be grateful to be kept informed.)
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30 October 1974
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Mr Dinwiddy, HKIOD
P.S.Actiey
PS Astley
South East Asia Dept