GR 270
C 3
CONFIDENTIAL
KUDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 250330Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO.14 OF 25 JANUARY,
INFO PRIORITY F.C.O,
ник
Copy on roux ex3/1
HKK 341/1
RICIIVID IN REGAIRY NO. 91 2 6 JAN1979
CAL
RY
INDEX
en
No
201,
1.
ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
HKK
MY TELNOS,11 AND 12: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ORIGINALLY
FROM VIETNAM.
WE SHALL TAKE ACTION WITH THE NC NA THIS AFTERNOON.
2.
FOLLOWING ARE THE LATEST ARRIVAL STATISTICS:
MONTH.
JUNKS.
PEOPLE,
DAILY AVERAGE.
NOV78
11
277
9
DEC 78
33
1163
37
JAN 79
38
1664
69
(TO 24)
TOTALS
32
3101
36
237
3. APART FROM THE EVIDENCE OF PHYSICAL CONDITION (MY TELNO.11, PARA.4), YOU COULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS AT
THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE BAD FOR DIRECT VOYAGES BY SAILING JUNKS
FROM NORTH VIETNAM AS WELL AS BY MOTORIZED ONES FROM THE SOUTH.
IN FACT, WE HAVE HAD VERY FEW DIRECT ARRIVALS SINCE LATE NOVEMBER,
AND NONE SINCE 14 JANUARY.
**
4. PLEASE TELL THE CHINESE THAT WE NOW BELIEVE NEARLY ALL RECENT
ARRIVALS ARE FROM THE PEARL RIVER DELTA AREA, BUT THAT THEY ALL
STICK TENACIOUSLY TO STORIES ABOUT BEING SEA-SICK ALL THE WAY
FROM THE HAIPHONG AREA. THESE ARE TOTALLY IMPLAUSIBLE SINCE
EVEN **NORMAL DIRECT ARRIVALS FROM THIS AREA (WHOM WE TREAT
AS REFUGEES) ALWAYS STOP FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS AT POINTS ON THE
CHINESE COAST TO PURCHASE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES. (A VOYAGE BY
SAILING-JUNK FROM HAIPHONG CAN TAKE UP TO FOUR WEEKS EVEN WHEN
WINDS ARE FAVOURABLE, AS THEY ARE NOT AT PRESENT),
CONFIDEN HAL
15. IF WE OSTAIN