RESTRICTED
25. A PICTURE OF THE SEAMIER SIDE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADING IN SOUTH EAST ASIA WAS PRESENTED WHEN ''KWOK THE DWARF TOOK THE STAND. KWOK, WHO HAD A WIFE AND FAMILY IN VIETNAM AS WELL AS A WIFE IN HONG KONG, TOLD OF A LONG SERIES OF MEETINGS IN DOWNTOWN HOTELS AND TEASHOPS IN HONG KONG, BANGKOK, AND TAIPEI, IN THE COURSE OF WHICH THE DETAILS OF THE HUEY FONG OPERATION WERE HAMMERED OUT - WITH PROTRACTED BARGAINING BY ALL PARTIES.
26. KWOK, WHO HIMSELF SAILED ON THE SHIP FROM BANGKOK AND WHO LATER POSED AS A REFUGEE, SAID THAT HIS OWN CUT" AS AN ORGANISER WAS EVENTUALLY AGREED AT HK DOLLARS 120,000 (ABOUT £12,000 STERLING). HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD TRIED AT ONE STAGE TO DECEIVE THE HUEY FONG'S MASTER AND CFFICERS BY PRETENDING IT HAD BEEN ARRANGED FOR FISHING JUNKS TO TAKE THE REFUGEES OFF THE FREIGHTER AND BRING THEM IN TO HONG KONG HARBOUR.
27. KWOK ALSO TOLD THE COURT OF ANXIOUS TELEPHONE CALLS
AND CABLED MESSAGES RECEIVED IN HONG KONG FROM UNCLE KWONG** IN VIETNAM WHEN THE HUEY FONG PREPARATIONS APPEARED TO BE GETTING BOGGED DOWN. WHAT WAS THE USE OF HAVING ALL THE ''FROZEN DUCKS'' READY, COMPLAINED KWONG, IF THE "BRIDE" COULD NOT GET TO THE ''WEDDING'' ON TIME?
28. KWOK WENT ON TO RELATE HOW, WHEN THE HUEY FONG WAS MOORED IN A VIETNAM HARBOUR AS IT PREPARED TO EMBARK THE REFUGEES, HE HIMSELF WAS TAKEN BY A CONTACT TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF A PRIVATE BUILDING IN HO CHI MINH CITY. A TABLE WAS PILED HIGH WITH GOLD LEAF, WATCHES, RINGS, BROOCHES, NECKLACES AND PENDANTS. AROUND THE TABLE SAT VIETNAMESE SECURITY OFFICIALS, EXAMING, WEIGHING
AND EVALUATING THE 'LOOT'' IN COMPLETE SILENCE,
Ex
29. THE GRIM RECORD OF INTRIGUE PRESENTED IN EVIDENCE WAS INTER- SPERSED OCCASIONALLY WITH ELEMENTS OF LOW-LIFE BLACK COMEDY - AS WHEN STATEMENTS MADE BY THE HUEY FONG'S CAPTAIN WERE READ OUT.
| 30.
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.