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A copy of that telegram was communicated to the
Foreign Office who had received a note from the French
Embassy stating that Nguyen ai quo c was considered
by the French Government to be an international danger
and that they were very anxious that he should not
remain at large.
The French did not wish to
formulate any special request as to what should be done
with him, but they would like the matter brought to the
notice of the Hong Kong authorities so that the latter
should know the views of the French Government.
On 31st July the Governor telegraphed that
application had been made to the Chief Justice for a
writ of habeas corpus on behalf of Nguyen ai quoc
and that the Superintendent of Prisons had been called
upon to show oause why it should not be granted.
Deportation had been approved by his Executive Council
and he would be glad to learn as soon as possible
whether the Secretary of State approved of his proceedin
as suggested in his telegram of 24th July.
The reign Office replied on 1st August noting
ing
that this Annamite, though under detention, had committed
$
no extraditable crime, but that there appeared to be
legal grounds for his deportation from Hong Kong.
The Foreign Secretary understood from the Home Secretary
that in a case of deportation, the practice in the
United Kingdom is to deport the alien to the country
whose passport he holdsor can obtain, and not to any
other country. as Nguyen ai quoc had been identified
as a native of Annam and his presence in China would be
open to grave objection, the Foreign Secretary suggested
that