TNAG-0663-FCO40-812-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 147

G.F. 323

MEMO

CONFIDENTIAL 機密

НК Fro

From Director of Immigration

Tor-Distribution list

Ref.

(8) in IMM CR 265 Pt 13

Tel. No.: 5-456065

14 FEB1977

Date: 1 February 1977

NICK 341 301

Illegal Immigration from China and Macao

December 1976

During December 1976, 86 illegal immigrants (85

from China and 1 from Macao) surrendered to or were arrested by the Police, compared with 72 last month (71 from China and 1 from Macao).

;

China

2.

Of the 85 illegal immigrants from China arrested, 44 claimed to have arrived by sea (4 by swimming and 40 by boat) and 41 said they came over the land border. Most of them were between 16-25 years of age. All were processed at Ta Ku Ling. The highest number of illegal immigrants arrested on any one day during the month was 19 on 5th December.

3.

This group of 19 was arrested by the Police on board a Hong Kong registered motorized fishing junk off the praya of Chai Wan Estate on 5th December. Enquiries revealed that they were farmers from various communes in Swatow.

3 alleged snake-heads were arrested and the junk was seized. 18 of the illegal immigrants were repatriated to China on 10th December and the remaining one (a pregnant woman) was permitted to remain in Hong Kong on humanitarian grounds.

4.

On 18th December, 9 fishermen from Kit Shek Commune hi-jacked a local fishing junk at Luk Fung, China and forced the master to convey them to Hong Kong. They were intercepted by the Police at Fat Tong Mun later in the day, and were repatriated to China on 19th December.

5.

7 bodies, believed to be those of illegal immigrants drowned whilst attempting entry, were recovered from the sea in the northern sector during the month.

6.

The cumulative total of illegal immigrants arrested by or surrendered to the Police from China since 1st January 1968 is now 29,764. The yearly totals are as follows:

CONFIDENTIAL #

/Year

TATIAL REGISTRY

1.16.45 pite S/.2.6.2.)

WARD

LETTER