CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE
FM FCO 1218157
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
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1974
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•News Dept and Mr Elliot,
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TEL NO 559 OF 12 JUNE/AND TO SAIGON
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 621: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG FROM SOUTH
VIETNAM.
1. THE NORMAL UK RULE IS THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE RETURNED
TO THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY BOARDED THE SHIP OR AIRCRAFT, BUT THIS MAY DE VARIED IF THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS A THIRD COUNTRY THAT IS PREPARED TO TAKE THEM OR IF THERE ARE
GENUINE HUMANITARIAN REASONS AGAINST RETURN.
2. LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS HOPES THAT REMOVAL TO A THIRD COUNTRY WOULD BE VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED: AND IN PARTICULAR THAT THE
PEOPLE CONCERNED WOULD BE AFFORDED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY
OF FINDING A THIRD COUNTRY WHICH YOU ARE SATISFIED WILL TAKE THEM.
3. HE IS ALSO VERY ANXIOUS THAT ALL POSSIBLE ASSURANCES SHOULD BE
OBTAINED BEFORE RETURN THAT THOSE RETURNER WILL NOT RE EXCESSIVELY
PUNISHED. WHEREVER THERE IS REAL HUMANITARIAN REASON FOR NOT
DEPORTING ME HOPES THIS WILL BE ACTED ON. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
BE CONSULTED IN DIFFICULT CASES.
4. IN THE PARTICULAR CASE OF THE 119 CHINESE FROM SOUTH VIETNAM
LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS SAW MR MARTIN ENNALS OF AMNESTY ON 12 JUNE.
MR ENNALS SAID THAT HIS INFORMATION WAS THAT THE GROUP FACED AT
BEST IMPRISONMENT AND AT WORST EXECUTION AND PROBABLY TORTURE
IF THEY WERE RETURNED. AMNESTY WAS ASKING FOR A STAY OF ANY
REMOVAL ORDER SO THAT INDIVIDUAL CASES COULD BE EXAMINED. ON THE QUESTION OF ACCEPTANCE BY THIRD COUNTRIES AMNESTY HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE AUSTRALIAN AND SWEDISH GOVERNMENTS AND OTHERS. (WE HAVE
SINCE LEEN CONTACTED BY THE SWEDISH CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ASKING FOR DETAILS OF THE CASE). NO PROMISES OF ASYLUM HAD YET BEEN MADE BUT EMMALS WAS HOPEFUL, PROVIDED THAT TIME COULD BE GIVEN. UNLESS THE 119 HAD BEEN EXAMINED INDIVIDUALLY, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO
BE SURE WHETHER SOME OF THEM MIGHT NOT BE RESISTING MILITARY
SERVICE IN SOUTH VIETNAM ON CENUINE CONSCIENTIOUS GROUNDS, OR HAVE
OTHER VALID REASONS FOR HUMANITARIAN TREATMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5. LORD GORONLY
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