TNAG-1185-FCO40-1487-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 118

MEMO

From:

Commissioner of Police (DSB)

CONFIDENTIAL #

機密

HKK2 43||

Secretary for Security

То

Ref : (26) in SF/404-128

Tel :

5-284284 Ext. 204

Your Ref

:

Date :

19th November 1982

RF3/12

Dated: 4th October 1982

(11) in CC/G/92 (C)

Report on L/M 1818 - the "Shantou Interlopers"

The Special Branch debriefing team has interviewed a number of the group of 17 refugees who arrived aboard L/M 1818 on 29th September.

2.

According to them, these 17 persons had left Vietnam in two groups. The first group started out from Qui Nhon, Central Vietnam on 16th July 1982 and on 4th August reached Shantou, where they were accom- modated by the Chinese authorities while their boat underwent repair. The second group consisting of 10 refugees, left Hue on 22nd July, also reaching Shantou on 4th August. On departure from Shantou on 25th Sept- ember the two groups were placed on the boat belonging to the first group.

3.

Members of each of the original groups were questioned in detail concerning their journeys and their stay in Shantou. The debriefing team found no reason to doubt their stories, summaries of which are attached as annexures to this memorandum. Members of each group displayed know- ledge of recent events in Vietnam and had no difficulty in recognising the new coinage. They were also able to identify acquaintance. within the camp who had known them in Vietnam.

40

It is unlikely that these groups were resettled in China before arriving in Hong Kong. It is probable that they left Vietnam in September, intending to head for Hainan and then to follow the coast to Hong Kong, but that wind and current combined to force them off-course, causing them to overshoot both places.

C.C.

D of I HSI

Jamies

(P. Davies)

for Director of Special Branch for Commissioner of Police

PD/TLP/cl

CONFIDENTIAL #

299