CONFIDENTIAL
105
TOP CORY
CRS 280
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 110800Z
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.52
REF.
[11 JUL 1974
b X X 14/S
TO PRIORITY SAIGON TELEGRAM NUMBER 18 OF 11 JULY, 1974.
PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 22 OF 10 JULY: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
I
(102
I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR SURPRISE AND CONCERN AND THE GENERAL
POINT IN PARA 3 IS WELL TAKEN. NEVERTHELESS, THE FOLLOWING WILL, I HOPE, EXPLAIN OUR PROBLEMS HERE.
2. DELAY IN SENDING OUR TELEGRAM NO 14 AROSE FROM THE NEED TO EXTRACT ALL RELEVANT FACTS FROM THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. NEITHER THEIR DIRECTOR NOR THE POLICE WISHED TO ACT TOO
OSTENTATIOUSLY ON THE DAY OF THE TRIAL OF THE DEMONSTRATORS AND THEY TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO COMPLETE AND REPORT ON THEIR
INVESTIGATIONS. THEY ARE STILL CHECKING QUIETLY ONE BY ONE
ON THE OTHER NAMES SUPPLIED BY THE POLICE.
3. THE DRAFTING OF OUR TELEGRAM NO 375 TO THE F C O ON THE P Q
HAPPENED TO COINCIDE WITH THE DECISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION THAT THE MAN HAD A RIGHT TO REMAIN BY VIRTUE OF
HIS BIRTH IN HONG KONG. THE INSERTION HAD TO BE MADE AFTER THE DRAFT LEFT ME, LITERALLY JUST BEFORE ITS DESPATCH, TO DEAL WITH POSSIBLE ENQUIRIES IN LONDON ABOUT THE MAN'S POSITION. YESTERDAY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION FORMALLY TO
LET HIM STAY.
THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT TO THE PRESS REPORTED IN PARA 2 OF OUR TELEGRAM NO 735 WAS NOT PARTICULARLY DEFT OR
*
CONFIDENTIAL
/ HELPFUL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.