CONFIDENTIAL #
Source-L/M 1277
Source Details
Source was a 24 year old Chinese male born at Quang Ninh, Northern Vietnam, who emigrated in September 1978 to China via Haiphong, Hanoi and the Friendship Pass at Pingxiang.
The Escape from China
2. Source and his wife (who accompanied him to Hong Kong) had been assigned to No.7 Production Brigade of Dawang Overseas Chinese Farm and shortly after arrival decided that they wished to leave. They accordingly began saving money, and by early 1981 had amassed sufficient funds to begin organising a clandestine departure.
30 Apart from Source, three other residents of Dawang Farm (not identified but accompanying the group) assisted with the organisation.
40
They had heard that Hong Kong was likely to repatriate to China any Vietnamese Chinese who left their Farms and arrived in Hong Kong.
It was therefore decided that Macau was the principal destination, but with Hong Kong as a second choice if Macau should prove impossible. Source could not recall any "escapees" being returned to his Production Brigade from either Hong Kong or Macau, and he considered this a hopeful sign.
5.
On 21st March, Source and the three other organisers went to Lubao, where they knew that boats were available. They agreed with a local Chinese, (no details) to buy a rowing boat which was currently being used as a dwelling. The purchase price of RMB 700 was handed over the following day, and on 23rd March the group of 18 persons cast off from Lubao.
6. Passing through Hekou (3109/0656), the group reached Xinan (6007/0589) on 24th March, where the other three organisers went ashore to seek a coxswain as they were experiencing difficulty in steering the boat, which was meanwhile moored at the river bank under Source's control.
7.
The next day, 25th March, they returned with a coxswain
whom they had found in Jinglong (2973/7127) District. He claimed to be a Vietnamese Chinese and could speak some Vietnamese, but when the group reached Hong Kong, he was classified as a Chinese Illegal Immigrant.
8. At about 2000 hours on 30th March the group was intercepted by a Chinese launch manned by four officials in uniform, three in CCA uniform and one in the white shirt and dark trousers of the PS:
9.
Once the officials had established that the group consisted of Vietnamese Chinese and not Chinese Illegal Emigrants, they allowed them to carry on to Macau, where they entered about an hour later.
10
In the course of a brief interview by the Macau Police, the group admitted having originated from Dawang Farm.
110
After a sojourn of 10 days in Macau, the authorities placed the group on a passing Vietnamese refugee boat, which took them to Hong Kong the same day, 10th April 1981.
CONFIDENTIAL
機密
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