GRS 990
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 06033ØZ JUN 79
HKK 243/1
MILLIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
INT
7 JUN1979
OFFICER-
REGISTRY Action Taken
No PA 17.600
973
TO ROUTINE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 733 OF 6 JUNE
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
FOR ALLAN OID FROM FORD.
FOLLOWING
THE FOLLOWING PIECE IS BASED ON INTERROGATION OF RECENT ARRIVALS
FROM VIETNAM.
IT CAN BE USED IN COMPLETE FORM AS UNATTRIBUTABLE ARTICLE OR DRAWN UPON FOR BACKGROUND BRIEFING.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FINANCIAL MOTIVATION IN VIETNAM'S SYSTEMATIC
EFFORTS TO DRIVE OUT ALL CITIZENS OF CHINESE ETHNIC ORIGIN IS
BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR,
EVIDENCE RECENTLY GATHERED IN HANOI AND HO CHI MINH CITY AND FROM REFUGEES NEWLY ARRIVED IN HONG KONG STRONGLY SUPPORTS THESE
CONCLUSIONS:
A. THE COLD AND HARD CURRENCY BEING EXTORTED FROM THOSE UNDER PRESSURE TO LEAVE NOW AMOUNT TO A MAJOR IF SHORT-TERM PROP FOR VIETNAM'S MISMANAGED AND THREADBARE ECONOMY, WITH THE REFUGEES PROBABLY CONSTITUTING THE COUNTRY'S SINGLE MOST PROFITABLE EXPORT
COMMODITY:
B. THE VIETNAM GOVERNMENT VALUES THIS TRAFFIC SO HIGHLY THAT
IT HAS AUTHORISED 'SHOOT TO KILL' ACTION AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL
OR GROUP THREATENING ITS MONOPOLY BY ATTEMPTING TO FLEE THE COUNTRY
OTHERWISE THAN THROUGH THE ''OFFICIAL NETWORKS AND
C. IN VIEW OF THIS, LITTLE OR NO CREDENCE CAN BE GIVEN TO ANY OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTIMATIONS THAT IT IS PREPARED TO FOREGO THIS LUCRATIVE TRADE IN FAVOUR OF A REGULARISED SYSTEM OF DEPARTURES
BY AIR.
ACCORDING TO RELIABLE SOURCES IN THE MONTH OF APRIL OVER
US DOLLARS 200 MILLION WAS REMITTED TO THE BANK OF VIETNAM IN
HO CHI MINH CITY FROM ETHNIC CHINESE LIVING ABROAD. THIS WAS MORE
THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT REMITTED IN ANY PREVIOUS MONTH IN 1978/79.
CONFIDENTIAL
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