TNAG-0498-FCO40-563-Deportation-of-foreign-nationals-from-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 69

CONFIDENTIAL

BY BAG

布政司署

香港下亞畢道

本署檔號 OUR REF.:

CR 56/2091/68

* Your Ref.:

A C Stuart Esq

NXK14/5

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept

F CO

Dear Andrew,

LAST

REF.

NEXT

8x7 (363

REF.

COLONIAL SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

27 September, 1974

Enter

Aca

9/10

POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TRUM SOUTH-EAST ASIA

>

The case of the 118 illegal immigrants from South Vietnam has made us look again at our policy generally on the removal of illegal immigrants from South-East Asia. We were already moving in this direction as a result of your 23 letter of 15 May (HKK 14/5) enclosing an enquiry from Amnesty

International about the attitude of the Hong Kong Government towards South Vietnamese "draft dodgers" and "deserters" and about our official policy on South Vietnamese illegally staying in Hong Kong. The interval between the sending back of the 118 and the outcome of their trial in Saigon gives us a chance to review the field and to seek your views on this highly complicated problem.

2.

From 1 April 1971 to 31 July 1974 the Hong Kong Government removed 838 illegal immigrants to countries in the region. (This figure excludes the 118 South Vietnamese who, technically, were not removed as they had never been granted "permission to land") The 838 were as follows:-

1974

C.S. 41A

1971 1972 1973

(1.1.74 31.7.74)

Macau Taiwan

26

155

227

116

6

22

130

99

Thailand

2

South Vietnam

1

10

(+ 118)

Khmer Republic

2

5

All others

1

6

17

13

33

186

389

230 (+ 118)

3.

There are still a number of suspected illegal immigrants from South-East Asian countries in Hong Kong. Some officials here estimate that it may take over a year before the cases of those of whose presence we are aware have been investigated. We shall, under existing policy, continue

CONFIDENTIAL

/contd..

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