TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

9. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, SINCE THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN PUBLICITY (SOME OF IT HIGHLY TENDENTIOUS), WE SHOULD LIKE TO SETTLE THE MATTER QUICKLY AND DEFORE FURTHER PUBLICITY CAN BUILD UP. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO REPATRIATE THE WHOLE GROUP BY AIR AS SOON AS CAN BE ARRANGED. IN ANSWER TO PRESS QUESTIONS WE SHALL SAY THAT WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THE PARTY CAME FROM SOUTH VIETNAM. THEY HAVE BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND IN HONG KONG AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL POLICY THEY HAVE BEEN RETURNED WHENCE THEY CAME. IF NECESSARY WE WOULD ADD THAT WE HAD ASSURANCES THAT NO SEVERE PUNISHMENT

AWAITED THEM.

5. PLEASE CONFIRM NO CEJECTIONS.

MACLEHOSE

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FILES

HKIOD

SEAD

FEO

M & VD

NEWS D

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR WILFORD

MR MALE

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CONFIDENTIAL