TNAG-0498-FCO40-563-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 121

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TO IMMEDIATE SAIGON TELNO 128 OF 17 SEPTEMBER INFO SAVING

HONG KONG.

YOUR TELNO 261: ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS.

1. OUR OBJECT IN SUGGESTING THAT YOU SHOULD PURSUE MR BAC'S OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT A VISIT TO THE PRISONERS WAS TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO SCOTCH AMNESTY'S ALLEGATIONS BY SECURING SOME INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION THAT THESE, PARTICULARLY CLAIMS OF ILL-TREATMENT ON WHICH A CHECK MAY BE EASIER, ARE UNFOUNDED. WE WOULD NOT WISH YOU TO MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR A VISIT TO THE PRISONS, WHICH MIGHT SUGGEST TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE THAT HMG LACKED CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ASSURANCES. WE HOPE RATHER THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE THEMSELVES TO ARRANGE A VISIT AS BEING IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS.

2. THE SCOPE OF A VISIT, IF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE WISH TO ARRANGE ONE, WILL BE DETERMINED BY WHAT IS PRACTICABLE AND MOST LIKELY TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVE AND CAN ONLY BE DETERMINED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE CHOICE OF THE VISITOR. FROM HERE THE ICRC REPRESENTATIVE (ABOUT WHOM YOU HAVE TOLD US THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE HAVE RESERVATIONS) OR UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE WOULD SEEM THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES. AMNESTY MIGHT BE LESS INCLINED TO ACCEPT THE WORD OF A U.S. NATIONAL. A VISIT BY THE CONSUL-GENERAL OR A SPECIAL BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE OPEN TO THE OBJECTIONS OUTLINED IN YOUR LETTER OF 2 AUGUST TO STUART, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD NOT RULE THIS OUT, PARTICULARLY IF CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER INTERESTED. MISSIONS (EG THE DUTCH).

3. WE HOPE THAT WHOEVER SEES THE PRISONERS WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT PUBLICLY THAT THEY ARE BEING HUMANELY TREATED, AND THAT HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO GIVE YOU, INFORMALLY AND IN CONFIDENCE, A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HIS VISIT.

CALLAGHAN

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SEAD

HKIOD

MVD

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD

MR MALE

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