TNAG-0496-FCO40-561-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 68

GPS 150

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 249845Z

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CONFIDENTIAL

186

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52

FOR COP

2 4 JUL 1974

1-1114/5

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 783 OF 24 JULY/INFO IMMEDIATE SAIGON,

MY TELEGRAM NO 778.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

LAST

REF.

THE PURPOSE OF THE VIETNAMESE CONSUL-GENERAL 'S CALL TODAY WAS TO INFORM THE POLITICAL ADVISER OF THE RELEASE OF 27 OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (SAIGON TELEGRAM NO 202 OF 23 JULY), HE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THAT THE ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS WERE CITIZENS OF VIETNAM AND THAT THEIR FORTHCOMING TRIAL WAS VIEWED IN VIETNAM AS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR AND WOULD BE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH

VIETNAMESE LAW.

2. POLITICAL ADVISER REITERATED THE GREAT IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO THE FATE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, HE ALSO ARGUED THAT THE LONGER THE DELAY IN HOLDING THE TRIALS, THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ILL-WISHES TO DISTORT THE SITUATION.

3. ON THE QUESTION OF ASSURANCES, THE CONSUL-GENERAL STATED THAT THE LESS SAID IN PUBLIC THE BETTER. HE UNDERSTOOD THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEMS AND WAS SURE THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD (WITHIN THE FRAME-WORK OF THE LAW) DO ITS BEST TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF

THEM.

4. HOWEVER, FURTHER STATEMENTS WOULD BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE WAS GREAT SENSITIVITY IN VIETNAM ABOUT WHAT MIGHT SEEM TO BE INTERFERENCE IN VIETNAMESE INTERNAL AFFAIRS..

ROBERTS

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HKIOD

SEAD

M & VD

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PS/MR HATTERSLEY

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