CODE 18-77
CONFIDENTIAL
FA 243/1
309
Reference
•
NOTE FOR THE FILE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
It appears that Vietnamese officials are arranging the secret exodus of ethnic-Chinese from South Vietnam. Through middle-men, the officials approach rich ethnic-Chinese households and offer to arrange their departure from Vietnam. The ethnic-Chinese are asked to pay 12 taels of gold per adult and 8 taels per child. In return they are put aboard a chartered vessel like the "Hai Hong" to sail to South East Asia. Or, alternatively, they may be given official permission and safe passage to leave the country, but have to make their own arrangements to find a small boat by which to do so.
2. In the case of the "Hai Hong" the vessel was anchored at buoy 9 off Vung Tau. The passengers were assembled for boarding and taken out to the ship by small boats under the direction of Vietnamese officials. The original destination of the "Hai Hong" is thought to have been Hong Kong. It may have been that the vessel went South to Malaysia because of bad weather. Hong Kong is apparently regarded as the most likely destination for further such arranged departures since the Hong Kong authoritites are considered to be soft on entry.
3. It is likely that the' Vietnamese are awaiting the outcome of the "lai Hong" case. If the refugees on board succeed in getting safely resettled, further such arranged departures will follow and there could be another 10,000 people leaving in this way in the next month. The next few months will provide good weather for such journeys.
4. The people buying their way out under the scheme are the rich ethnic-Chinese. A few Vietnamese may have been included where they are relatives of ethnic-Chinese or are able to fiddle their way in.
5
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Most of the gold to pay the Vietnamese authorities no doubt came from secret personal hoards. However people can buy gold from Cuban and Russion sailors and diplomats, or even from Vietnamese officials. Large numbers of dollars are being sent by relatives abroad to people in South Vietnam and can be used for such purchases.
6. While those who have the Vietnamese officials' permission are allowed safe passage through Vietnamese waters, ordinary refugees who try to escape without such permission risk being shot by the Coastguards or imprisoned if caught.
23 November 1978
HK+65
с.с по биотреси, Актыў
M. Morgan, UND
CONFIDENTIAL.
Col
CT W Humfrey
South East Asian Department
HKK 243
243/10.
RECEIVED IN REGD HO. 51
27 NOV 1978
DESK O. NICI INDEX
No
PIA
Action Taken
Chr
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