CONFIDENTIAL ##
機密
Serial No: 4327
SF/404-124
dated 19th November 1982
Information from Vietnamese Refugees L/M 1774 'B'
TA MINH a 25 year old ethnic Vietnamese and his wife were part of a group of 10 who were placed on board this boat in Hainan by the Chinese authorities.
2.
According to TA NINH 24 refugees departed Nha Trang, South Vietnam on 20th May 1982, with the intention of going to the Philip- pines. When they were four days out from Vietnam the engine broke down and they therefore raised a sail made from articles of clothing in an attempt to return to Vietnam. On the ninth day when they had run out of food they saw a ship which they unsuccessfully attempted to hail.
TA's elder brother and two other men then attempted to swim to the ship but after about half an hour the ship disappeared and the three men were not seen again.
30
On the 12th day TA's three year old son and his nephew of 18 months died of hunger and thirst.
40
On the 14th day they saw land in the distance but found that they were being driven away from it by offshore winds. The boat owner and a friend therefore attempted to swim ashore, but TA thinks it unlikely that they could have survived in the stormy seas and believes that they drowned.
On the 16th day TA's sister-in-law and a young man died of hunger and thirst.
5.
6.
On the 19th day they saw a fishing net float with a flag on it. A young man climbed on the float in order to attract the attention of any junks which might come into the area. However, the float sank under his weight and both he and his cousin who attempted to rescue him drowned in the rough sea.
70
Later that day a Chinese fishing junk approached them, and while they were begging the fishermen for food and water in sign language one of the refugees, a young boy, jumped onto the junk. The crew of the junk appeared to be afraid that the refugees might hijack their junk and sailed away with the boy still on board. Later the junk returned and provided them with food and water and returned the boy to them. On their final departure the fishermen indicated the direction of Hainan. They therefore hoisted the sail and reached land a few hours later.
8.
TA claimed that the surviving 12 people remained for 54 days in Hainan where they were accommodated by Public Security Bureau personnel in some disused houses. Two of this group were eventually placed on board a passing boat containing refugees from Da Nang while the remainder were placed on board L/M 1774 and arrived in Hong Kong on 9th August 1982.
GF 323
CONFIDENTIAL
機密