TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 29

GRS 380

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.52

FM SAIGON 030440Z

-3 JUL 1974

CONFIDENTIAL

(28

CONFIDENTIAL

NICKY

TO PRIORITY FCO TELEGRAM NUMBER 179 OF 3 JULY 1974. REPEATED FOR INFORMATION PRIORITY TO HONG KONG,

MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 176: REPATRIATED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,

3)

} }

1. WE HAVE STILL NOT SEEN THE LE MONDE ARTICLE BUT WE HAVE

NOW IDENTIFIED A GOVT STATEMENT OF 20 JUNE, THE SEMI

OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY REPORTED ON 21 JUNE THAT BUI BAO TRUC HAD DENIED A NEWS REPORT BY THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING

POST' OF HONG KONG WHICH CLAIMED THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAD AGREED TO EXTRADITE THE 118 VIETNAMESE CITIZENS WHO HAD CONE ABROAD WITHOUT VISA ON CONDITION THAT NO PUNITIVE MEASURES (COMPARE LE MONDE MEJURE REPRESSIVE") WOULD BE APPLIED TO ALL THOSE ELEMENTS. MR TRUC STRESSED

THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RVN HAS NEVER KNOWN SUCH

CONDITIONS"

2. IT IS DIFFICULT TO ARCUE THAT THIS IS MISLEADING. RVN DID NOT UNDERTAKE THAT NO PUNITIVE MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN. THEY DID OF COURSE UNDERTAKE THAT THE 118 WOULD NOT BE VICTIMISED AND WOULD BE TREATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.

THE

I DO NOT SEE HOW IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE CAN SECK A CORRECTING STATEMENT, I UNDERSTAND FROM THE MFA THAT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE EMBASSY IN LONDON WILL HAVE BRIEFED FOREIGN MINISTER BAC SO THAT HE MAY BE IN A POSITION TO REPLY ON THE GENERAL QUESTION OF ASSURANCES WHEN HE CALLS AT THE

FCO.

3. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE CHIEF FIGURE AMONG THE 118 WHO WERE REPATRIATED HONG (SEE MY TELNO 17 TO HONG KONG) HAS NOW APPEARED BEFORE A MILITARY COURT WHICH IS TRYING THE

SMUGGLING CASE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE CASE IN WHICH HONG WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ABSENTIA AT THE

CONFIDENTTAL

ATLITANY