GR 675
STRICTED
FM HONG KONG 080820Z JUN
TO ROUTINE F.C.O.
RESTRICTED
TELEGRAM NUMBER 752 OF 8 JUNE, 1979.
FOR ALLEN OID FROM GIS.
HKK 243/
RECEIVED IN REGISTAY NO.
1 5 JUN 1979
DESK OFFICE:
INDE
1027
N. CA
де
1. HUEY FONG TRIAL. TODAYS PROCEEDINGS ROUND UP BY ANTHONY
TOBIN IN HONGKONG.
BEGINS.
A SECURITY VESSEL BELONGING TO THE COMMUNIST VIETNAMESE GOVERN- MENT REMAINED ALONGSIDE THE FREIGHTER HUEY FONG THROUGHOUT THE . BOARDING OF MORE THAN 3,000 REFUGEES IN A HARBOUR ON THE COAST OF SOUTHERN VIETNAM, A HONG KONG COURT WAS TOLD TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE ALLEGATION WAS MADE IN A STATEMENT BY TRAN VAN HONG, A CHINESE MALE REFUGEE WHO WAS ABOARD THE OVERCROWDED SHIP WHEN IT SET SAIL FOR HONG KONG IN DECEMBER 1979.
THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP, HSU WEN-HSIN, A 52-YEAR-OLD CHINESE, HAS ADMITTED DEFRAUDING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WITH THE INTENTION OF GAINING ENTRY TO HONG KONG FOR THE REFUGEES. HE HAS DENIED ANOTHER CHARGE OF BEING THE MASTER OF A PASSENGER SHIP CARRYING AN EXCESS NUMBER OF PASSENGERS.
SEVEN OTHER DEFENDANTS, ALL MALE CHINESE, HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO SIMILAR CHARGES.
IN A STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN CONCEDED BY THE DEFENCE COUNSELS, TRAN VAN HONG SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN A RESIDENT OF VIETNAM UNTIL DECEMBER 1978 WHEN HE PAID 35.5 TAELS OF GOLD FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. THIS WAS CALCULATED AT 10 TAELS FOR EACH ADULT AND 1.5 TAELS PER CHILD.
THE PROSECUTION CROWN COUNSEL, MR PETER DUNCAN, SAID EARLIER IN THE TRIAL THAT THE AVERAGE PRICE PAID BY REFUGEES ON THE HUEY FONG WAS 12 TAELS OF GOLD FOR EACH ADULT AND ONE TAEL EACH FOR
CHILDREN UNDER 16.
(AT THAT TIME ONE TAEL OF GOLD WAS WORTH MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED POUNDS STERLING).
1
ANOTHER CHINESE MAN, AN TAM TUGUCE QUAN, IN A STATEMENT UN- CHALLENGED BY THE DEFENCE, SAID THAT HE HAD PAID 86 TAELS FOR HIS FAMILY OF 16 TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, HE SAID THIS WAS
RESTRICTED
CALCU
/ CALCULATED AT
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