TNAG-0496-FCO40-561-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 98

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PERSONAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

Telephone 01-

13

Your reference

HE Sir Murray MacLehose KCMG MBE

Helensburgh

c/o Kilchoan

Golf Hill Drive

Dumbartonshire

Our reference

Date

19 July 1974

1.

Dear Ramay

I spoke to Lord Goronwy-Roberts after our telephone conversation about illegal immigrants. He is still understandably disturbed about the article in last week's New Statesman and has today apparently been further attacked on the question. He said he felt that Hong Kong had perhaps sent back the Vietnamese without giving them sufficient individual attention and that we would have to ensure that we were properly consulted on all future

cases.

2.

I reminded him of our original telegram to Hong Kong and of your conversation during your meeting in London. I pointed out that Alan Donald's discussions were going on with his agreement.

3.

He rallied a bit but said that he would like to discuss this with you further so that he could assure the Secretary of State that he had gone over the ground once again with you. I said you were very willing to come to see him but that you would normally expect to pass straight through Heathrow, I also explained the possibility of local misunderstanding of the purpose of your visit.

4.

He replied that he would be very willing to keep the meeting confidential and to hold it elsewhere than in the FCO, even at Heathrow. He did not want to interrupt your family preoccupations, on which he repeated his expressions of sympathy.

5.

I have accordingly sent the agreed telegram to Denys Roberts and will let you know when I get a reply. I suggest we arrange a brief meeting either at the House of Lords or, if Lord Goronwy-Roberts is in the event willing, at Heathrow on your way through.

6.

Sorry;

but in the interests of Alan Donald's exercise I think it is as well to get this straightened out. It would be disastrous to reach agreement at your end only to have unacceptable conditions imposed from here.

ce (blund)

hir D. Walsan. Mr I lilford.

Yours ever

Adoow

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.