TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 201

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· 31.

Small boats have also been used in large numbers; in general, these have headed south for Malaysia and Indonesia, being nearer. Losses at sea from natural causes and piracy are believed to have been high. There are believed to be a large number of new boats under construction as most of the existing craft have now gone. 15% of those reaching Hong Kong from Southern Vietnam in January to June 1979 have travelled overland to the north and thence by small boat.

Disclosures at the Huey Fong Trial

8.

The trial for criminal conspiracy of the master of the vessel "Huey Fong" and ten others involved (now in progress in Hong Kong) disclosed the elaborate arrangements which had been made, involving middlemen and syndicates in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan, working with the connivance, collaboration and, at times, on the initiative of the Vietnamese PSB. A high ranking Vietnamese official was said in evidence to have supervised the embarkation of the refugees and substantial fees were alleged to have been paid to the Vietnamese authorities. Each adult was required to pay 12 taels of gold (approximately US $ 2,400) of which 10 taels went to the authorities and 2 were earmarked for the cost of the voyage. Hence, apart from, confiscation of property and other exactions, the Vietnamese Government was making something like US $ 4 m. on the transaction. The cover story which was to be told to the Hong Kong Government was that the vessel had rescued the refugees from sinking ships on the high seas.

Ethnic Vietnamese Refugees

9.

In both North and South Vietnam, but particularly in the latter, ethnic Vietnamese have also been leaving in substantial numbers, Many held positions of some importance under the former South Vietnamese Government. Ethnic Vietnamese are required to pay a surcharge of up to 50% of the "normal" rate and are provided with false documents to give them a Chine se identity. From January to June 1979, 29% of refugees arriving in Hong Kong from Southern Vietnam and 8% of those arriving from the North were ethnic Vietnamese. The proportion has been increasing in the past two months.

/cont'd