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THE CHINESE
pigs; they run a terrible risk of being caught. Some slip aboard ferryboats, the "snake boats." But these are just a few isolated cases.
Almost all the defectors who get across do so at night by swimming one of the two bays on either side of the colony, Deep Bay in the Northwest and Mir's Bay in the Northeast. At its narrowest the crossing is a mile, but there are strong currents; in addition, the Chinese navy has laid wire netting across both bays, and they are patrolled by armed junks. In the winter of 1970–71. several hundred fugitives died of the cold. One morning in November 1970, about sixty corpses were found washed up on the beaches of Hong Kong. Those who managed to force their way through the barrier often tore their arms and legs on the oyster beds, and their blood attracted the sharks. To get over so many obstacles, you have to be something of an athlete. The fugitives are often boys and girls of between eighteen and twenty-five who have spent months following in Chairman Mao's footsteps, training in lakes and swim- ming pools before embarking on their adventure. The Great Helmsman probably did not foresee this indirect consequence of his celebrated swim.
Inadequate Countermeasures
Since the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese authorities have once again stepped up their efforts to discourage escape attempts. A campaign has been waged since 1970 in the areas adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao to put the population on their guard against the dangerous and fatal fascination of these cities, which are sinister examples of capitalist decay and colonialist dec- adence. A great deal was made of the dramatic deaths of the fugitives in the winter of 1970-71. Very harsh punishments are inflicted on those who fail in an escape attempt and on those who help them. Local peasants are trained to help patrols track down escapees.
of It was rumored in Hong Kong that police dogs had found groups young people hiding behind rocks on the way to the coast; they were shot without trial. It is very likely that the Chinese authorities made quite sure that the report was spread widely on the mainland. Those who are not killed on the spot are imprisoned or sent away for “corrective” treatment. People who have tried to escape often end up in forced labor camps.
Even so, in spite of the danger of death and the strong likelihood of being captured, the number of refugees is not only not dropping—it is increasing. Why is this, when the Chinese are being fed better and better, their standard of living has improved markedly, and the political and social climate has settled down after the wild days of the Cultural Revolution?
The fugitives who are officially accounted for by the Colony authorities are immediately interviewed by private or public organizations like the
The Fugitives of H United Nations refugee service, the tional Social Service and the Intern discreetly encouraged to tell about t these interviews have become one of t attitudes and thinking of young peo and workers, but a certain number people and former Red Guards who
Disturbing Evidence
The morale of many of the your land" seems to be bad. With their i when they are relegated to the rank face, and this is even more serious confess that they had hopes of being stint in the country, or perhap machines—things which would sta turned to the towns or tried to go to mistrusted them and let them do on would have to work as peasants for their studies again or return to the did not recognize their merits. The province, because the authorities-- defections-cut down on the num areas. It is difficult enough to escap virtually impossible when you don' rules is quickly spotted, particularly is always being asked to produce- Some technical people frankly high salaries paid in Hong Kong. M the rumor circulating among your welcomed in Hong Kong, finds wor free of fear. In fact, the British auth these arrivals than they were in the f very pleased to have them; young t what is needed for an expanding e motivated young people who are k and educated, so it is all to the a
The situation of the refugees that of the refugees from East G crossed barbed wire at the risk of th
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