TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

58

keep

ASSURANCES BY THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE THAT RETURNED ILLEGALS WOULD

NOT BE HARSHLY TREATED

(26

(a) "draft dodgers did not face death penalty on return or anything like it" (Hong Kong telegram no. 621 quoting Vietnamese Consul-General).

(b) "no severe punishment awaits the group" (Hong Kong telegram no. 647 quoting

(c)

Consul-General).

"Nothing serious should happen to the group, since they will be considered as innocent victims of the smuggling syndicate" (94) (Hong Kong telegram no. 648 quoting Consul-General).

39

(a) "The Vietnamese Consul-General in Hong Kong had spoken under instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The due processes of law would be carried out: these did not include execution or torture. The only persons who would incur severe penalties would be the organisers of the smuggling syndicate" (Saigon telegram no. 154 quoting Assistant for Political Affairs in Vietnamese MFA).

20 June 1974

CONFIDENTIAL