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(C) RETENTION OF THE GROUP WOULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO ADOPT A POLICY (IF THIS WERE AGREED) OF RETURNING ILLEGALS TO CHINA, A SUBJECT WHICH IS UNDER ACTIVE DISCUSSION BETWEEN US!
(D) THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE HAVE ASKED FOR OUR COOPERATION OVER THEIR RETURN. HMG IS IN FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT:
E) WE HAVE RECEIVED ASSURANCES THAT NO SEVERE PUNISHMENT AWAITS THE GROUP AND THIS IS BORNE OUT BY SAIGON TELEGRAM
NO 15.
3.THE FORMAL POSITION IS THAT THIS GROUP HAVE BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION TO ENTER HONG KONG. THEREFORE, WE WOULD BE REPATRIATING THEM AND THE QUESTION OF DEPORTATION DOES NOT ARISE, IF THEY ARE NOT REMOVED TO THE COUNTRY FROM WHENCE THEY CAME, THEY COULD PERHAPS SEEK ENTRY TO MACAU OR TAIWAN. THE FORMER WOULD BE UNSATISFACTORY BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE LONG BEFORE MOST OF THE GROUP RETURNED HERE. THE LATTER WOULD PRESENT AN AWKWARD SITUATION IN RESPECT OF OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA. HAS ENNALS GIVEN ANY INDICATION THAT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE IN MIND?
4. GRATEFUL FOR URGENT AUTHORITY TO TAKE ACTION AS PROPOSED IN PARA 4 OF OUR TELEGRAM NO 621. WE WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF WE COULD RECEIVE ASSENT TO THE RETURN OF THE GROUP BY CLOSE OF PLAY
THURSDAY 13 JUNE (OUR TIME),
ROBERTS.
PILES
HIKIOD SEAD
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
SIR D WA TSON
MR MALE
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