CONFIDENTIAL
2
機密
Page No. 2 of 3 Dages
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favourable wind and tide conditions; the direction of arrivals during the month has been forecast with some accuracy by .N. meteorologists. The number of hoat arrivals from the west (the Pearl Fiver estuary communes) increased slightly during November. IIs have continued report that small boats are generally readily available in the counties of the west bank of the Pearl Fiver. However, a number of IIs from Fuyong corrune, Shenzhen Municipality (on the east bank of the earl Diver) have reported obtaining their escape hoats from other counties, as most small boats in their commune had already been stolen by escapers. The number of boat arrivals from the north east decreased slightly during lovember, but it is not clear if this resulted more from unfavourable winds en tides or from increased Chinese patrol craft activity. One II from Haifeng County reported that on 29 October, a flotilla of over 40 escape boats (with more than 60% TIs on board) attempted to escape to Fong Kong. Although the escape had been planned by persons familiar with the route, the majority of the boats were intercepted by Chinese patrol craft and only 10 boats reached Fone Fong waters. The same II also said that there would be further mass escape attempts fror the County in the near future, However, it has been reported that the County authorities there have listed Jiesheng and Pianqian Communes as 'escape black spots' and were taking action to deal with the prohler.
5.
Reports continued to be received that, as from January, all escapers would be more severely punished by imprisonment, even for first tire offenders. A Chinese broadcast in mid-Novem' er reported severe punishments for three train escapers (5, 4 and 1 years' imprisonment) in Shaoguan Prefecture and a report was received that an escape boat organiser and accomplice had received 2 and 2 years' imprisonment respectively in Canton in late November for organising on a paying basis an escape to Hong Kong. Generally, apart from these well-publicised exceptions, punishments are still not severe.
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Assessment
7.
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
It is so far not clear whether or not PLOSED UNTIL
UNDER FOI
/additionaMPTION NO 27.9 d.
CONFIDENTIAL
機密