TNAG-0497-FCO40-562-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 37

CONFIDENTIAL

2

(i

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

Name

Language spoken

Place and date of birth

Family background (names, ages and

addresses of relatives)

(v) Particular details of any relatives

(vi) (vii) (viii)

living in Hong Kong

Occupation/salary etc. for the past 4 years Reason for leaving Vietnam

Documents held (whatever type)

Officers from the Immigration Department were present during these preliminary interviews. They received copies of the completed pro-forma for each person and on the information supplied segregated the cases where there was a possible claim to remain in Hong Kong. After that, where necessary further enquiries were made after the immigrants had been placed in detention.

5.

The Government of Hong Kong acted in accordance with the legal powers contained in the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115). Specifically the Director of Immigration has power to detain for up to two months, under sections 18 and 32 of the Ordinance, persons "refused permission to land" (under section 11). This includes groups arriving by boat such as the 119 from South Vietnam.

6.

We can therefore see no basis for the allegations in Tracy's letter that the detention of the 119 was unlawful.

7.

As for the behaviour of Bill Collard and the statement which he was alleged to have made to the press, you should know that he received a very large number of enquiries on the day in question from the press and the other mass media. You should be aware that the press have rather more licence to ask questions in Hong Kong than in many other parts of the world, and that in the absence of any elected legislative assembly, Hong Kong Government officials do their best to answer press queries as openly and honestly as they can. I am sorry to say that the journalists here sometimes take advantage of this situation. However, Collard has told me that the line he generally maintained in answer to questioning was that "the illegal immigrants had been refused permission to land, were being interrogated, and would remain detained until enquiries were completed and a decision made about their future. This might take some time in view of the very large numbers involved and the complexity of the case". He denies using the words attributed to him.

8.

Like you, we are of course awaiting with interest the outcome of the trial of those of the 118 who have not been

Cent.DENTIAL

/contd.