TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 9

$20

IMMEDIATE

HER/CAT A

FM FCO 9818192 JUL

RESTRICTED

DESKBY 0900017 JUL TO ALL

RECEIVED IN REGISTE Da, ⠀1

- 9 JUL 1974

HKKI4|5

14

(HK)

1974

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 630 OF 8 JUL/AND TO IMMEDIATE

SAIGON,

*

LAST

RE:

.EXT

A

1@6 qu

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION:

FROM HKIOD,

93

ILLEGAL HINGRATS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM.

1. NR. JAMES JOHNSON MP HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER ON 19 JULY, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT COMMUNICATION HE

HAD FROM THE ACTING GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG CONCERNING THE DEPORTATION

OF 119 OVERSEAS CHINESE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAD SOUGHT SANCTUARY IN HONG KONG ON 17 JUNE ON THEIR WAY TO (SIC) SAIGON: AND

WHAT ASSURANCES THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH.

VIETNAM,

2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND A REPLY ON THE FOLLOWING LINCS:

QUOTE THE GOVERNOR INFORMED ME BY TELEGRAM THAT ON 2 JUNE A

LOCALLY REGISTERED FISHING JUNK WAS INTERCEPTED IN COLONY WATERS

AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE ON BOARD 119 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, ALL OF

CHINESE DESCENT, FROM SOUTH VIETNAM. ALL BUT ONE WERE RETURNED TO

SOUTH VIETNAM ON 17 JUNE, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT CAVE

ASSURANCES IN HONG KONG THAT NOTHING SERIOUS WOULD HAPPEN TO THE

GROUP STUCE THEY WOULD BE TREATED AS INNOCENT VICTIMS OF THE

SYNDICATE WHICH HAD SHUGGLED THEM OUT OF VIETNAM, THE SOUTH

VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMED THESE ASSURANCES IN LONDON

4 JULY IN CONVERSATION WITH MY HON FRIEND THE MINISTER OF STATE

UNQUOTE.

ON

3. GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS BY 0949GCZ.

4. WHEN TR, HATTERSLEY RECEIVED MR. DAC ON 4 JULY (MY TELNO, 89 TO SAIGON) THE LATTER CONFIRMED HE HAD NO OBJECTION TO A PUBLIC

REFERENCE TO HIS ASSURANCES.

CALI, AGHAM,

FILES

HKIOD

SEAD

M & V D

FED

PARLIAMENTARY UNIT

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

PS/MR HATTERSLEY

MR MALE

RESTRICTED