GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
B
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 070641Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 071020Z
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY, No. 50
- 7 APR 1975
REF
MICK 18/25
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PA
ale
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 330 CF 7 APRIL INFO IMMEDIATE
SAIGON.
FOLLOWING FROM DONALD.
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 324 OF 5 APRIL: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. FURTHER TO TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW THE GUIDANCE WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES DEALING WITH POSSIBLE PRESS ENQUIRIES IF ANY FLOW OF REFUGEES TO HONG KONG WERE TO DEVELOP. OUR LINE WOULD BE AS FOLLOWS:
AS ALWAYS, EACH CASE IS CONSIDERED INDIVIDUALLY ON ITS MERITS:
(B) ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE THEREFORE HELD IN CUSTODY WHILE
THEIR CASES ARE BEING INVESTIGATED:
(C) GENUINE WAR REFUGEES AND POLITICAL REFUGEES WILL NOT BE
RETURNED TO VIETNAM OR CAMBODIA:
(D) HONG KONG CANNOT ABSORB SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES WHO
HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THE COLONY:
(E) THESE REFUGEES WILL THEREFORE BE KEPT IN TRANSIT ACCOMMODATION
UNTIL ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR THEM TO BE SENT ON TO SOME COUNTRY WHICH IS WILLING TO RECEIVE THEM:
(F) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH APPROPRIATE
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND WELFARE ORGANISATIONS WILL DO ITS BEST TO FIND PERMANENT HOMES IN OTHER COUNTRIES FOR THESE REFUGEES:
(G) THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT IF, IN THE FUTURE, THE SITUATION IN THESE COUNTRIES CHANGES, ILLEGAL ENTRANTS FROM THEM MAY NOT BE RETURNED TO THEM.
CONFIDENTIAL
·/2.