TNAG-1424-FCO40-1907-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 39

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HA 01 290528Z MAR 85

N

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 022 OF 29 MARCH

PA

ROUTINE INFO: HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT OFFICE BRUSSELS.

YOUR TELNO 16 OF 23 MARCH.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1. YOUR PARA 1: FRG EMBASSY HERE HAVE NO (RPT NO】 KNOWLEDGE

OF THE REPORT AND ARE SOMEWHAT AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN IT.I ASSUME

IT CONCERNS ETHNIC VIETNAMESE NOW RESIDENT IN FRG.

2.

REFERENCE TO QUOTE EX REFUGEES UNQUOTE IS UNCLEAR.IT THIS

MEANS ILLEGAL DEPARTURES, NEITHER FRG NOR ANY OTHER WESTERN

MISSION HERE SEEMS TO HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF VISITS BACK TO

VIETNAM. IF IT MEANS ODP DEPARTURES, NEITHER WE NOR FRG MISSION KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC CASES BUT DO NOT FIND IT HARD TO CREDIT,

SINCE THE AUTHORITIES HERE WOULD CHARGE THROUGH THE NOSE FOR THE

PRIVILEGE AND THEY COULD THUS BE A VALUABLE SOURCE OF FOREIGN

EXCHANGE.

3.

FRG MISSION DO KNOW OF ETHNIC VIETNAMESE WHO LEFT SEVERAL

YEARS AGO (BEFORE 1975) ON STUDY TOURS, AS WORKERS ETC, WHO

REMAINED IN FRG AND WHO HAVE RETURNED ON SHORT VISITS.THEY EQUALLY

KNOW OF VIETNAMESE WHO VISIT FRG TO SEE FAMILY THERE AND THEN RETURN TO VIETNAM

4.

YOUR PARA 2: THIS IS WELL KNOWN.THE SECURITY CHIEF OF DONG

NAI PROVINCE (EAST OF HO CHI MINH CITY) WAS EXECUTED LAST YEAR FOR INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL BOAT DEPARTURES (AND IT WAS SAID THAT

HE HAD ACCUMULATED A PRIVATE HOARD OF 40 KGS OF GOLD FROM THE TRADE). THOUGH I HAVE NOT HEAR OF QUOTE SPECIALLY BUILT BOATS UNQUOTE I DO NOT FIND IT ALTOGETHER INCRDIBLE THAT SOME SOUTHERN FISHING COOPERATIVES MIGHT DIVERT NEW VESSELS, FOR EXAMPLE, INTO THE ILLEGAL DEPARTURE BUSINESS. I HAVE NOT YET, HOWEVER, SEEN EVIDENCE

OF THIS FROM RECEPTION COUNTRIES.

5. FCO PLEASE PASS ALL ADDRESSEES.

WOOD

MINIMAL

SEAD

HKD 425

+KK

243/5

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

DE

IND. Y

ADF 1985

BOUSTRY

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SH

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