TNAG-0496-FCO40-561-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 92

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** THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM REAFFIRMED TO THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM WHAT HE HAD ALREADY INFORMED THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE IN LONDON, MR HATTERSLEY: NAMELY THAT 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.''

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I SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE QUITE UNSATISFACTORY TO MY GOVERNMENT. IN PARTICULAR THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE ASSURANCES ALREADY GIVEN, MR BAC. REPLIED THAT, WHERAEAS HE DID NOT RETREAT FROM THESE ASSURANCES, I MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS A VERY DELICATE MATTER FOR A COUNTRY LIKE VIETNAM TO STATE PUBLICLY THE FACT AND NATURE OF ASSURANCES GIVEN TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. HOWEVER, IN FURTHER DISCUSSION HE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS AS FIRST AND LAST SENTENCES TO HIS PROPOSED STATEMENT:

(A) FIRST SENTENCE: "THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR CALLED TO EXPRESS HIS GOVT'S CONCERN ABOUT THE APPARENTLY CONFLICTING PRESS REPORTS OF ASSURANCES GIVEN TO THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THE 118 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS REPATRIATED FROM HONG KONG."

(B) LAST SENTENCE: ''IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT THESE ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS WOULD RECEIVE UNUSUALLY HARSH PUNISHMENT.''

ON (A) MR BAC SAID THAT HE SAW NO OBJECTION TO THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR. MENTIONING, ASSURANCES, THOUGH HE WOULD WISH TO AVOID THE WORD. SINCE HE DID NOT AGREE PRESS REPORTS WERE CONFLICTING, THE WORD APPARENTLY SHOULD BE USED.

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ON (B) MR BAC SAID THAT HE HAD NOT USED WITH MR HATTERSLEY THE WORD "UNDULY'' (SEE YOUR RECORD OF THIS MEETING) BUT

''UNUSUALLY''.

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