TNAG-0496-FCO40-561-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 34

CONFIDENTIAL

THE GROUP ARE NOW AWAITING TRIAL: ABOUT 20 WOMEN AND OLD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON CONDITION THAT THEY REPORT FOR TRIAL,

AND THE REMAINDER ARE BEING HELD IN PRISON, HMG AND THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN CRITICISED FOR BELIEVING THE VIETNAMESE

ASSURANCES AND FOR SENDING THE GROUP BACK.

5. FOLLOWING FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS FROM HM AMBASSADOR SAIGON

ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THEIR EARLIER ASSURANCES, THE VIETNAMESE

MFA ISSUED ON 30 JULY A STATEMENT THAT QUOTE THE 118 ILLEGAL

EMIGRANTS WHO HAD BEEN REPATRIATED FROM, HONG KONG ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY AND WILL BE TRIED IN OPEN COURT IN THE NORMAL

WAY ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY. IT IS NOT EXPECTED

THAT THESE ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS WOULD RECEIVE ANY EXCEPTIONAL PUNISH-

MENT UNQUOTE. SAIGON INFORMED US ON 22 JULY THAT TRIAL WAS UNLIKELY

TO TAKE PLACE FOR QUOTE TWO OR THREE WEEKS UNQUOTE.

CALLAGHAN

FILES:

HKIOD

SEAD

MVD

FED

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

PS/MR. ENNALS

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