TNAG-0495-FCO40-560-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 95

CONFIDENTIAL

GR 200A

IMMEDIATE

DESKBY 132338Z (HONG KONG)

CYPHER/CAT A

FM FCO 131800Z

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 132330Z (HONG KONG)

TO

RECUVO IN REGISTRY No. 51

LAST REF.

רי

17 JUN 1974

NEAT

REF.

46

HIKINIS

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TEL NO 562 OF 13. JUNE 1974 INFO IMMEDIATE

SAIGON

YOUR TEL NO 652: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM SOUTH VIETNAM -

1. SOUTH VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR CALLED ON WILFORD ON 13 JUNE ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF HIS PRESIDENT TO EMPHASISE HIS GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO SEE THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RETURNED. HE EMPHASISED THAT MOST OF THEM WERE DRAFT-DODGERS AND THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WERE ANXICUS, TO

PUT AN END TO THIS TRAFFIC.

2. WILFORD SAID THAT IT WAS NOT FOR US TO ENFORCE VIETNAMESE LAW AND EXPLAINED THAT THE FINAL DECISION FOR US THE

ESTED WITH YOU.. PRIMARY CONSIDERATION WAS THE CONTROL OF IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG, BUT ONE ASPECT OF THE AFFAIR OF CONCERN HERE WAS THE FATE OF THE 119 IF RETURNED. WE HAD TAKEN NOTE OF THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE, AND IT WAS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT, IF THE, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE RETURNED, THESE ASSURANCES SHOULD BE

FULFILLED.

· 3. THE AMBASSADOR TOOK THE POINT AND WAS POSITIVE THAT ANY RETURNED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WOULD BE DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LETTER OF THE LAW. WILFORD UNDERTOOK TO PASS ON HIS REPRESENTATIONS, BUT SAID THAT HE COULD NOT AT THIS STAGE SAY WHAT DECISION MIGHT BE TAKEN, BUT THAT IF HE HEARD ANY NEWS HE WOULD PASS IT ON.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

HKIOD

SEAD

MVD

LEGAL ADVISERS

PS

PS/PUS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

PS/WR ENNALS

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