TNAG-0891-FCO40-1101-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 165

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

HkK 213/1

BELEIVED BY REGIÓ FY NO.

2 1 JUN 1979

1155

FM HONG KONG 192800Z JUN

TO ROUTINE F.C.0.

TELEGRAM NUMBER 815 OF 19 JUNE, 1979,

DESS OFFICER

MISTRY

PA

Action Takun

по

INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, BIS NEW YORK, CANBERRA, HANOI, KUALA LUMPUR, BANGKOK, JAKARTA, MANILA, SINGAPORE AND

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

FOR ALLEN, 0.1.D.

HUEY FONG TRIAL:

1. THERE WAS NO ROUND-UP ON 18 JUNE, BECAUSE IT IS PROVING

IMPRACTICAL TO PREPARE ONE EACH DAY. FROM NOW ON WE WILL SEND see (1177

SUMMARIES TO FIT IN WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE TRIAL. FIRST SUMMARY (1236

UP TO END OF PROCEEDINGS ON 18 JUNE FOLLOWS:

2. A WELL DEFINED AND DETAILED PICTURE OF THE ROLE OF THE VIETNAM

GOVERNMENT AS TRAFFICKER IN REFUGEES HAS EMERGED FROM THE ''HUEY FONG TRIAL" WHICH IS NOW IN ITS THIRD WEEK OF HEARINGS AT THE VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT IN HONG KONG.

3. ACCORDING TO PROSECUTION EVIDENCE, THE VIETNAM AUTHORITIES HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN THE LION'S SHARE'' OF THE PROFITS

FROM THIS TRAFFIC. IT IS ALSO CLEAR FROM THIS EVIDENCE THAT, SINCE LAST OCOTBER IF NOT EARLIER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN PART ACTIVELY IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE TRADE, AND HAS FREQUENTLY PLAYED THE ROLE OF PACE-SETTER AND CO-ORDINATOR,

SHOWING DISTINCT IMPATIENCE WHEN ITS OVERSEAS CHINESE

CONTACTS APPEARED SLOW IN ARRANGING SHIPPING.

4. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN INDICATIONS THAT THE VIETNAM AUTHORITIES

HAVE CONDUCTED THE TRAFFIC AT A SENIOR LEVEL WITHIN THEIR OWN

CADRES, THOUGH ALSO USING SHADOWY GC-BETWEENS IN THEIR DEALINGS

WITH THE INTERNATIONAL RACKETEERS WHO LAID ON THE TRANSPORTATION.

5. THE COURT HAS BEEN TOLD THAT, WHEN THE CARGO SHIP HUEY FONG ARRIVED OFF THE VIETNAM COAST LAST DECEMBER TO PICK UP REFUGEES, IT WAS MET BY A LIAISON GROUP ABOARD A GUNBOAT:

RESTRICTED

/AMONG THE

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