TNAG-0664-FCO40-813-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 17

SEC

Land Border

Bays

Sea

Total

September:

Arrested

78

195

1

274

Evaded

293

228

41

562

Co

October:

Arrested

31

122

3

156

Evaded

161

93

20

20

274

a.

November:

Arrested

67

50

Evaded

13

12

25

119

30

27.

MIRS and DEEP Bay Routes. In general terms evasion through DEEP Bay is almost four times as successful compared with MIRS Bay. Known Aug Nov 77 evasion figures were (at 30 Nov), 439- for DEEP Bay compared with 116 for MIRS Bay.

28. Land Border. On the land border 462 are to date know to have evaded from east of LOWU to SHA TAU KOK whilst 307 have claimed entry from inclusive LOWU to the north of the SHAMCHUN River.

29. Dec 77 - Jan 78. The flow of illegal immigrants into HONG KONG is subject to seasonal influence. Based on the experience

of 12 months ago arrests on the land border should be most probable on the 'China Mountain' route followed by Sector 3 (TA KU LING to PAK FU SHAN) and Sector 8 (MAIPO Marsh). Very few swimmers were arrested over the period Dec 76/Jan 77 but 50 claimed entry by boat at CASTLE PEAK and a total of 85 were intercepted at sea.

Escape by Train

30. On 4 December 1977 ten illegal immigrants arrived by train at TAIPO in a freight wagon and left the station without let or hindrance.

31. This particular group chose a freight wagon full of perishable goods which they deduced would not remain long in CANTON before being moved to HONG KONG. Access to sealed wagons is gained through ventilator windows.

Possible Arrest Rate in CHINA

32. In INTSUM 21/77(paragraphs 40 41) we gave some initial figures obtained of numbers of illegal emigrants under detention in CHINA. Although the information was scant it did indicate a possible arrest ratio of seven in CHINA to every one repatriated from HONG KONG.

33. A more recent source (OIR T/4120/1/77) has recalled numbers under detention in a series of Reception/Detention Centres through which he passed en route back to his home commune (KUNGPING) in HAIFENG County some 130 kms east of HONG KONG. His experiences

SECRET