TNAG-0907-FCO40-1117-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 4

CONFIDENTIAL #

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MY NO. 51

JAN 1980

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Tel No :

5-284284 Ext. 204

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Date :

19th December 1979

267

་

LAST PAPER

Illegal Immigrants' Arrival by Boat from Fujian Province

On 5th December 1979 a motorised vessel carrying 92 illegal immigrants (IIs) was intercepted in Hong Kong waters. The boat had

come from Jinjiang County, Fujian Province. On 10th December, a second motorised vessel from Jinjiang County was intercepted in Hong Kong waters. This vessel counted 68 IIs aboard.

2.

which

IIs debriefed from the first vessel claimed to have paid RMB 400 each for the journey and had boarded the boat near Jinjing in Jinjiang County of Shenlu Bay (24°40'N, 118°40'E) on 27th November. Just prior to the departure, some local residents got to hear of the escape and tried to board the escape vessel. In order not to arouse suspicion, they were allowed on board, without payment. During the voyage, took eight days, the IIs pretended to fish in deep waters by day, coming closer to the coast at night and gradually heading towards Hong Kong. The majority of the IIS on board had relations either in Hong Kong or overseas and were dressed in "fashionable western clothing". Some of the IIs had gold jewellery hidden in the linings of their jackets. The IIs said that many people in Fujian Province wanted to come to Hong Kong and at least three boats from there had successfully Hong Kong recently and had written back to Fujian Province telling friends of their success.

3.

reached

their

IIs debriefed from the second vessel said that there were three or four organisers of the vessel : two or three were responsible for purchasing it (at a cost of RMB 10,000); one went to Lufeng County (Guangdong Province) to look for a "pilot, but found one in Haifeng County, wher he brought back to Jinjiang County, Fujian Frovince, together with six of his relatives. Many of the IIs on board had relatives in Hong Kong or overseas and had applied to emigrate legally, but had been turned down. They decided to escape as they were influenced by the "escape fever" in Guangdong Province. There was currently a rumour in Fujian Province that the Hong Kong Government would accept IIs as refugees and would not repatriate them and so many people in the Province were looking for ways to come to Hong Kong. However, none of those questioned were aware of the new anti-escape legislations planned to be implemented in January 1980.

CONFIDENTIAL

G.F. 323

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