TNAG-0496-FCO40-561-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 37

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0717 :INDOCHINA-IMMIGRANTS:

8. H. Dininddy Ever (19) Hong Kong. Depr.

SAIGON, JULY 30, REUTER -- THE GOVERNMENT HAS ASSURED

THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR HERE THAT A GROUP OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE

OF CHINESE ORIGIN WHO WERE FLOWN BACK LAST MONTH AFTER

AN ABORTIVE ATTEMPT TO ENTER HONG KONG WILL GET A FAIR

TRIAL, IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.

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AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAID BRITISH AMBASSADOR JOHN BUSHELL CALLED ON FOREIGN MINISTER VUONG VAN BAC TO EXPRESS CONCERN +ABOUT APPARENTLY CONFLICTING PRESS REPORTS ON ASSURANCES GIVEN TO THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT+ ABOUT THE GROUP.

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THE STATEMENT FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID MR. BAC REITERATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S VIEW THAT +THE 118 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ... ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY AND WILL BE TRIED IN OPEN COURTS IN THE NORMAL WAY ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THIS

COUNTRY+.

DIPLOMATIC SOURCES SAID AMBASSADOR BUSHELL CALLED ON MR. BAC

A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST WEEK.

THE 118. MOSTLY OF DRAFT AGE, WERE PICKED UP IN A LAUNCH BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES AND DETAINED IN THE BRITISH COLONY FOR 11 DAYS BEFORE BEING REPATRIATED LAST MONTH.

POLICE HAVE SINCE RELEASED 29 OF THE GROUP AFTER INVESTIGATIONS AND

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN HAS SAID THAT THE REMAINING 89 WILL FACE CHARGES OF EITHER DODGING MILITARY SERIVE IN WARTIME OR TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. REUTER TTK/RLH (FALLB)