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Information L/M 1397
Source Details and Access
Source was a 29 year old ethnic Chinese male who left Ha Tuyen, northern Vietnam via Hanoi and Friendship Pass in June 1978 with his family. After his arrival in China he was resettled in No.1 Brigade of Xinha (2450/0735) Overseas Chinese Farm (OCF), Chongzhou County (1504/ 1563), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region where he worked as a driver.
Escape Planning and Departure
2.
Source was unable to accept the hardships of life on a OCF and found survival for his family on a combined income of RMB 56 per month difficult. Source claimed that it was common knowledge amongst Overseas Chinese that escapes could be made easily from Dawang (1129/2489) OCF, and that he decided to take his family there in early June 1981 to arrange an escape.
3.
and
Source and his family arrived at Dawang on 7th June 1981, having experienced no difficulty in making the overland journey. On arrival, Source and his family took lodgings with a friend (no details), and was introduced to two local residents who were alleged to be able to arrange for Source to purchase a boat for his escape attempt. The two local residents introduced Source to the leaders of a brick-making commune in the area, Source was able to arrange to buy a suitable boat for RMB 2,600. Having completed his negotiations, Source returned to Dawang to recruit his escape group from amongst the many Overseas Chinese who had made their way to Dawang intent upon leaving China. In a very short time Source recruited the other group members, which, including his own family, totalled 50 persons. He charged each adult RMB 110 to cover the cost of the boat purchase. On 18th June 1981 Source returned to the brick making commune to collect the boat and pay the commune leaders. Source also paid RMB 300 to the two local residents who had introduced him to the commune.
3.
Source arranged for all members of his group to assemble at Shali (3097/3468) during the evening of 19th June, and the departure was made under cover of darkness. The journey from Dawang to Mafang (7456/2075) was made under pilotage from a local resident, and on arrival at Mafang the local resident arranged for a motorised fishing junk to tow the group towards Beiji (0554/5894). At Beijie they were cast off from the towing vessel, and the pilot left, charging the group RMB 250 for both his services and those of the motorised fishing boat. The group employed a further two tug boats between Beijie and Macau, at a cost of RMB 80 and RMB 250. place in Zhongshan (0022/1472) County, the group was intercepted by militia
At one unknown personnel, who searched the boat for local Chinese residents. Finding only Overseas Chinese and Vietnamese aboard, the militiamen demanded payment of RMB 250 to allow their onward passage. On 21st June 1981 the group arrived safely at Macau, but were refused permission to land. The Macau police directed the group towards Hong Kong, where they arrived on 22nd June 1981.
GF 323
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Information
4.
Source
Source described the lifestyle of Overseas Chinese on OCFs, claiming that Overseas Chinese worked at the same tasks as the local residents, but were paid less for it. According to Source, Overseas Chinese resettled on OCFs were supposed to receive clothing, furniture and housing from the Chinese authorities as part of a refugee resettlement programme. These supplies were diverted at local levels, so that refugees only ever received a portion of their entitlement. Source also reported that the militia personnel in Zhongshan County were well known for their susceptibility to bribery from escaping Overseas Chinese.
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GF 323
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MEMO
From: Commissioner of Police (DSB) To:
Ref.:
SF/404-123
Tel. : 5-284284 Ext.204
Date :
5th August 1981
Vietnamese Refugees Ex-China
All Sorts of
Political Adviser,
34 EMERY NO. 51
A SEP1921
DESK OFFVER
NEX
No M
L/M 1442
PA
་་
ARCHSTRY
Action Taken
1976-7/4
On 16th July 1981, a wooden hinese river rowing boat, measuring 8 m x 2 m arrived in Hong Kong with 15 passengers on board. With the exception of one Vietnamese female, the remainder were ethnic Chinese. All claimed to have left Mafang (7456/2075), Sanshui (0005/3055) on 13th July 1981.
2. This group travelled at night to avoid detection, arriving in Hong Kong via Macau. Originally they had hoped to leave Dawang Farm, but discovered that since the beginning of July 1981, Dawang had been made a restricted area, and that only residents were allowed access.
age 10
45
3. The attached interview report is from the group organiser, who left Vietnam in 1978 and had been resettled on an Overseas Chinese farm in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This source had heard reports that an escape via Dawang Farm was easily organised, and had arranged for his family and himself to travel to Dawang in early July 1981. On arrival at Mafang, Source discovered that Dawang had been made a restricted area, but was able to organise his escape from Mafang. Despite the fact that Source was in possession of a "Relatives Visiting Permit" he still was not allowed to go to Dawang Farm.
4.
A photograph of the boat is attached.
c.c.
S for S (3)
APA (7)
D of I (3)
S for Info
D of Info Services
D of Marine
CAPIC
HSI
GS02 Local Int
(J.M. Shannon)
for Director of Special Branch for Commissioner of Police
JMS/GNS/al
CONFIDENTIAL 機密
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