(9069) Dd.032652 3m 2/67 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
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PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
for [WRITTEN | answer on 10 July 1974
HILE TO DEPL Dep!
The draft reply should reach the Parliamentary Office through your Under-Secretary by
Now Tuesday
9 July.
Mr James Johnson (Kingston-upon-Hull, West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what communication he had from the acting Governor of Hong Kong concerning the deportation to Saigong of 119 overseas Chinese men, women and children who had sought sanctuary in Hong Kong (on 17th June) on their way to Saigon; and what assurances they have received from the government of South Vietnam.
Pring Hentersley
us
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 after assurances had been received in London, Saigon and Hong Kong that nothing serious would happen to members of the group who were victims of the syndicate which had smuggled them out of Vietnam. The South Vietnamese Foreign
to me Minister confirmed these assurances in London on 4 July in conversation with my honourable Friend, the Minister of state, and said that cases of violation of the immigration/emigration laws would be tried in open court and would not be harshly punished.
Boy Hally
91.14
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