TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 145

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ON BALANCE, AND RELYING ON THE ASSESSMENT GIVEN IN SAIGON'S,

TELEGRAM NUMBER 409 OF 27TH DECEMBER 1973, WE WOULD MUCH PREFER

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TO RETURN HIM TO SOUTH VIETNAM. IF HE IS ALLOWED TO REMAIN HERE IT

IS INEVITABLE THAT OTHER YOUNG SOUTH VIETNAMESE WILL BE

ENCOURAGED TO SEEK REFUGE IN HONG KONG. SUCH A SITUATION MUST BE

AVOIDED.

5. LY IS AT PRESENT DETAINED IN THE VICTORIA RECEPTION CENTRE AND

WILL BE HELD PENDING YOUR COMMENTS.

6. WE SHALL SHORTLY BE REPLYING TO STUART'S LETTER OF 28TH

JANUARY BUT AS THIS DEALS PRIMARILY WITH THE SITUATION IN WHICH AN

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SEEKS TO BE SENT TO SOME OTHER COUNTRY IT IS ONLY

MARGINALLY RELEVANT TO LY'S CASE. WE SHALL BE SAYING HOWEVER THAT

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE RETURNED ELEVEN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

TO SOUTH VIETNAM AND THAT IN NO CASE DID WE FACE THE SUSTAINED AND

VOCIFEROUS PROTEST MADE ON BEHALF OF LEUNG.

MACLEHOSE

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MR WILFORD

MR YOUDE

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