TNAG-0497-FCO40-562-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 12

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AL

JC W Bushell Esq CMG SAIGON

Telephone 01-

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Mr Stunt Des

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Your reference

Our reference

Date

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12/4

10 September 1974

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ILLEGAL EXIGRANTS

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1. Martin Ennals of Amnesty International has written again to Lord Goronwy-Roberts about their allegations, but without giving the detailed evidence for which Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked in his letter of 7 August. I attach copies of Amnesty's letter and of the draft reply we have submitted. I will send you a copy of the Minister's reply when it has issued.

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2. Lord Goronwy-Roberts has asked whether it would be possible for a visit to the deportees to be arranged so that a check could be made on their condition. In your letter 10/3 of 2 August to Andrew Stuart you explained the difficulties surrounding an Embassy visit, and we fully take your points. Since then Soutar has reported in his letter of 16 August to Jones-Perry that the Foreign Minister han himself mooted the possibility of a visit, though without making it clear whether he had an embassy or an independent visit in mind. A visit by an independent observer ( your letter of 27 August to Dick Crowson leads one to consider Reuter's corres ondent an a cossible candidate) would certainly help to counter Amnesty's repeated allegations. The South Vietnamese have on occasion been willing to arrange prison visits in the rast, and it is in their interest that: an end be put to these allegations. While it is clear that Mr Bac was only thinking aloud when the possibility of a visit wan raised. I hope you will feel able to explore it further. Our own view, and doubtless yours, is that any visit should preferably be by a suitable independent observer.

3. The possibility of a visit apart, our main concern is that we should not be taken by surprise by Amnesty and others.

I am sure

that you will, as a matter of course, let us know about rumours concerning the treatment of the prisoners as soon as any become current in Saigon, so that Ministers will be aware of what is being said before Amnesty and, if possible, know also about any response to the allegations the South Vietnamese Government may have made.

CONFIDENTIAL

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