TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 137

......HOWEVER, TALES OF PROFITEERING IN THE REFUGEE TRADE BEGAN TO SHOW UP EVEN EARLIER......IN OCTOBER......REFUGEES INTERVIEWED TOLD STORIES OF PAYING IN THE RANGE OF 245 GRAMS OF GOLD A PERSON TO VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS TO OBTAIN WHAT AMOUNTED

TO OFFICIAL EXIT PERMITS.

SOURCES SAID THE IMPLICATION OF THE REFUGEE'S STORIES WAS THAT THE EXIT LEVY WASN'T SIMPLY RANDOM BRIBERY, BUT AN ORGANISED

OFFICIAL COLLECTION.

UNQUOTE

MACLEHOSE

FILES:

UND

SEAD

H K & G D

+

MVD

FED

MAED

FS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

FS/MR LUARD

MR CORTAZZI

COPIES TO:

MR BIRT HOME OFFICE, LUNAR HOUSE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON MR SLIGHT, SHIPPING POL DIV DOT

MR WEIR

MR MURRAY

MR FIGG

-3-