TNAG-2873-FCO40-4127-Smuggling-of-Chinese-illegal-immigrants-to-the-USA-via-Hong--1993 — Page 11

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

SAT 24 JUL 93 00:19

PG.05

WE SEEK YOUR GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE IN THWARTING TIE EFFORTS OF CRIMINAL SYNDICATES TO ENGAGE IN ALIEN SMUGGLING.

CHINESE CRIMINAL, ALTEN SMUGGLING IS AN INCREASINGLY TROUBLING AND COSTLY PHENOMENON FOR THE USG. KEPATRIATION OF MIGRANTS FROM THE PAST THREE CASES HAS COST THE USG 5 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS A FRACTION OF THE COSTS OF DETENTION, ADJUDICATION AND DEPORTATION OF THOUSANDS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REACHED THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THESE SCHEMES, RECENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THOSE INVOLVED IN UNSUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS SUGGESTS THAT A NUMBER OF THESE SHTPS AND OPERATIONS ORIGINATE IN ASIAN PORTS.

THEEE OPERATIONS ORIGINALLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF DRIFTNET FISHING VESSELS AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BAN WENT INTO EFFECT. HOWEVER, 5MUGGLING HAS BECOME SO LUCRATIVE AND RECULAR THAT LARGER VESSELS ARE DEING EMPLOYED FOR RECENT OPERATIONS.

THERE ARE AT LEAST SEVEN IDENTIFIABLE CRIMINAL (SMUGGLING) CONSORTIUMS INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES OPERATING OUT OF ASIAN CITIES AND PORTS.

REPORTE FROM INTELLIGENCE SOURCES INDICATE THAT AS MANY AS 50 SHIPS IN ASIAN HARBORS ARE BEING OUTFITTED AS ALIEN SMUGGLING VESSELS.

AFTER REFITTING, SHIPS DEPART THE PORT TO LOAD IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, THE TAIWAN STRAIT, AND OTHER ASIAN PORTS.

TO BE SURE, THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO LEAVE ANY COUNTRY, INCLUDING THEIR OWN, AND URGES THAT ALL GOVERNMENTS ENSURE THAT THIS KIGHT IS RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED.

NEVERTHELESS, WE BELIEVE THAT EFFORTS TO PUT A STOP TO THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY ALIEN SMUGGLING BY CRIMINAL SYNDICATES ARE BOTH JUSTIFIED AND NECESSARY DUE TO THE NATURE OF THESE SMUGGLING OPERATIONS AND THE THREATS THEY POSE.

FIRST, THE ALIEN SMUGGLING SYNDICATES ARE INVOLVED TN A RANGE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN THE V S. WHICH THESE LUCRATIVE SMUGGLING OPERATIONS HELP TO SUPPORT.

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SECOND, THESE OPERATIONS RESULT IN WIDESPREAD VTOLATION OF U.3. IMMIGRATTON LAW BY ECONOMIC MIGRANTS WHO ENTER WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, COSTING THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,