TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 92

チ

GPS 200

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 1488457

CONFIDLATIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.52

46

14 JUN1974

REF.

NKKI!

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 559 OF 14 JUNE INFO IMMEDIATE SAICON ROUTINE PEKING.

74

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 526 AND SAIGON TELEGRAM NO 154 TO FCO NOT REPEATED TO PEKING) ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM.

! WELCOME THESE EXTRA ASSURANCES, IN ADDITION, SOUTH VIETNAMESE CONSUL GENERAL HAS CONFIRMED THAT SOUTH VIETNAMESE CABINET HAVE AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE FULLEST COOPERATION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT (BOTH PRACTICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL) IN HANDLING THE PROBLEMS OF REPATRIATION, CONSUL GENERAL SHOWED NO ENTHUSIASM

FOR SUGGESTION THAT AN IMPARTIAL INTERNATIONAL BODY MIGHT INTERVIEW MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ON THEIR RETURN TO SAIGON (PARA 6 OF MY TELEGRAM NO 652). NEVERTHELESS, HE SEEMED WHOLLY RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA THAT ONCE THE GROUP HAD FINISHED COOPERATING WITH VIETNAMESE POLICE IN THEIR ENQUIRIES INTO THE QUOTE SMUGGLING RACKET UNQUOTE, INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR LEGAL ENTRY TO HONG KONG: AND THAT ANY APPLICATIONS TO LEAVE VIETNAM FOR HONG KONG SHOULD BE SYMPATHETICALLY CONSIDERED BY THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY IF ANY APPEARED TO HAVE A VALID CLAIM OF LONG NỞ

2. ! THINK THAT WE NOW HAVE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS ON THE QUESTION OF MALTREATMENT. WE ARE THEREFORE, IN COORDINATION WITH THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CONSUL GENERAL REPATRIATING THE WHOLE GROUP BY AIR. THIS IS PROVISIONALLY FIXED FOR EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING, PENDING FINAL CONFIRMATION FROM THE CONSUL GENERAL.

ROBERTS

DILES

HKI OD

3 E AD

M & VD

LEGAL ADVISERS

PRIVATE SECRETARY

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

PS/MR ENNALS PS/PUS

MR WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL