TNAG-1090-FCO40-1340-Illegal-immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-of-refugees-orig-1981 — Page 86

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL

MATO

From : Commissioner of Palice(DSB)

SF/404-123

機密

To: Political aviser

341/2

нки

RECEIVES

1 ? MAR 1981

Ref.:

Tel.:

5-284284 Ext.204

学 OFFICER

INDEX

Date :

23rd February 1981

PA

PY NO. SI

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6 A

In sexle れ

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Initial Report: Vietnamese Refugees Ex-China (L/M 1236)

On 16th February 1981 a single masted wooden junk sized about 10 by 2 metres, without registration markings, entered Hong Kong with 28 ethnic Chinese passengers aboard (L/M 1236).

20

They claimed initially to have come from Vietnam, but soon admitted under questioning to having departed on 13th February 1981 from Shamei (3079/1442), Pingsha (1627/3097) Overseas Chinese Farm, Doumen (2435/7024) County, Guangdong Province. Having touched briefly at a number of unidentified locations on the Chinese coast, the group reached Macau on 15th February, where they were allowed to spend the night before being towed by two Police launches to international waters and shown the direction of Hong Kong, where they arrived later the same day, 16th February. It is not known at this stage whether the group identified itself as coming from China or Vietnam; nor is it known if the group asked to remain in Macau.

3. Under questioning in Hong Kong the passengers stated they comprised five families of Vietnamese Chinese origin, who had fled from Vietnam to China in 1978 and 1979, and been settled on Overseas Chinese Farms.

4.

The five families claimed that they had applied independently to visit relatives at Pingsha over the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) holiday. Permission had been granted by their Farm officials, who issued the necessary "Permits to Visit Relatives" (these were reportedly destroyed before the group sailed into Macau). After arriving in Pingsha, the visitors thought that the local Chinese PS seemed less vigilant than usual, and that this was a chance to arrange a clandestine departure. It is not at present known if the destination was Macau or Hong Kong, or to try whichever of the two would grant entry.

5.

The families apparently met by chance and, finding a common interest in a clandestine departure, bought a boat for RMB 3,000 from a commune (sic) (no details) of Pingsha Overseas Chinese Farm, through a group of "entrepreneurs" who they ret at the teahouse of Pingsha Main Farm.

6.

The passengers claimed to have come from the following Overseas Chinese Farms:

/(a).......

CONFIDENTIAL

機密