TOP COPY O DIST ?
750
043534 MDLIAN 4590
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 3268
OF 06034OZ SEPTEMBER 88
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
M
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HANOI, MANILA, UKMIS GENEVA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: ASSISTANCE FROM TAIWANESE AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES
·
1 INTERVIEWS WITH A GROUP OF RECENT ARRIVALS HAVE GIVEN US FURTHER INDICATIONS OF THE EXTENT OF ASSISTANCE FROM BOTH THE TAIWANESE AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
2. THIS GROUP COMPRISED 8 PEOPLE WHO WERE ALL CLOSE RELATIVES. THEY LEFT CENTRAL VIETNAM ON 23.7.88 IN A WOODEN SAILING JUNK WITH THE INTENTION OF SAILING TO THE PHILIPPINES WITH THE HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE. THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN AFTER 8 DAYS AT SEA AND THE GROUP WERE ADRIFT UNTIL THEY REACHED HUALIEN ON TAIWAN WHERE THEY WERE INTERCEPTED BY A TAIWANESE NAVAL VESSEL.
3. THEY WERE DETAINED AND EXAMINED BY NAVAL OFFICERS WHO PROVIDED THEM WITH FUEL, CLOTHING AND A TAIWANESE TYPE WOODEN MOTORISED JUNK. ON 28.8.88, THEY WERE TOWED OUT OF TAIWANESE WATERS AND HEADED SOUTH-EASTWARD WITH THE INTENTION OF SAILING TO HONG KONG. THEY LOST THEIR WAY AND CALLED AT QIONG HAI ON HAINAN AFTER A SIX DAY VOYAGE. THEY WERE INSPECTED BY PRC OFFICIALS AND EXCHANGED SIX
WATCHES (WHICH WERE APPARENTLY GIVEN TO THEM IN TAIWAN) FOR PROVISIONS. THEY THEN SET OFF FOR HONG KONG AND ARRIVED ON 30.8.88.
COMMENT
4. WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ACTION ON THE BASIS OF THIS CASE BUT IT DOES PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE WIDESPREAD PRACTICE OF CHINESE AND TAIWANESE OFFICIALS ASSISTING VBPS TO GET TO HONG KONG.
WILSON
YYYY
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.