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Xi
interview 2
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14. This family of eight parents plus six children relied on fishing for their living and had their own boat on which three generations worked. But they lost a fishing season; the head of household lost part of his right arm in an accident at sea; and his mother fell very ill. In these circumstances he decided to leave Vietnam. He and his family were not driven away by persecution from the authorities. 28 people in all left for Hong Kong on 10 June 1988 and arrived there on 20 June. On arrival a police launch met them and took them initially to Hang Chau and then Chi Ma Wa. Life in the camps was normal and food, clothing and accommodation were provided. There were over 4,000 inhabitants.
15. Although the family came to know some officials were visiting the camps, the officials only saw the camp leaders and the inhabitants were told nothing. At some time before 1 August 1989 the family were asked why they had left Vietnam. They received no
an appeal and on about 1 August were told officially that they were not refugees. But they were also told that they would have to wait to return to Vietnam. They received no official advice that they could volunteer to return, although some of their friends did apply to volunteer when they learned they were not refugees. Neither did the family know about the availability of money. But they knew they had to return to Vietnam and felt it was a nonsense to remain in Hong Kong where they had no future. They did not consider the possibility of arrest by the Vietnamese authorities on their return.
16. The family were transferred to Phoenix House on 31 October 1989. According to the head of household, they put in applications to the camp leaders while at Phoenix House for voluntary repatriation (by implication, nothing came of these).
12 December a large number of policemen went to Phoenix House and asked the family to move to another camp. Old people and children were very cold. They were given no time to pack everything and had to leave one or two minor belongings behind. The police had truncheons and shields but did not use them. As they left for the airport, a Hong Kong official running Phoenix House told them that representatives of the Vietnamese Government and the UNHCR would be at the airport. The same man said each adult would receive US$50 and each child US$30, but they received US$30 and US$15 respectively. They were never told that US$50/30 would have been available if they had volunteered. The head of household believed that the British and Hong Kong authorities had broken their promise and treated the returnees inhumanely.
17. The family have been favourably surprised by the good treatment they have received from the Vietnamese authorities since their return. When they left Vietnam, they had, according to the head of household, committed an offence. But the authorities had forgiven them their mistake on their return. This contrasted with the behaviour of the Hong Kong authorities. The head of household wanted to stress the humane treatment of the Vietnamese authorities.
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