LORD
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عمار
21-91
Vin 3
123.5
mukhang 3.7
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
HKK 243
London SW1A 2AH
DESK OFFIC
29 June 1979
INDEX
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1225
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:
HONG KONG
On 24 May you asked whether the Hong Kong Government had the necessary powers to prosecute captains of ships trafficking in Vietnamese refugees and to confiscate the ships. I undertook
to look into this, and into the whole question of the role played by middle men in this racket.
Large scale trafficking in refugees is a new phenomenon
in South-East Asia. When clear evidence of it first came to
light at the beginning of this year, existing Hong Kong legislation was inadequate to provide a proper deterrent. The Hong Kong Government therefore brought in new laws, under which the owner
or master of a vessel found to be involved in the carriage of excess passengers for profit is liable to imprisonment for two years and a fine of HK$10,000 (approximately £1,000), with an additional fine of HK$5,000 for each passenger in excess of the
number allowed by the passenger certificate. The vessel is
also liable to forfeiture. In addition, anyone who scuttles or beaches a vessel without the express permission of the Hong Kong authorities may be fined up to HK$200,000 and sent to prison for up to four years. Further legislation was introduced at the beginning of June giving the Government power to search, and where appropriate seize, vessels already in Hong Kong waters if they are suspected of having been involved in refugee trafficking. It was already an offence under Hong Kong law to bring, or conspire to bring, unauthorised immigrants into the Territory.
P Tapsell Esq MP
House of Commons
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