- Title: HONG KONG: STOLEN CHINESE SAMPANS FERRY 28 PEOPLE TO FREEDOM
- Date: 11th February 1969
- Summary: SAMPANS; REFUGEE CHILDREN LOOKING; POLICEMEN ABOARD SAMPAN; REFUGEES QUESTIONED. Initials PK/VS/AE/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 26th February 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HONG KONG
- Country: Hong Kong
- Reuters ID: LVA2R2JFYK5CXYVFMR5O4O4ZEV2J
- Story Text: TWENTY-EIGHT MEMBERS OF A FAMILY HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG AFTER A BASH TO FREEDOM IN SAMPANS STOLEN FROM A COMMUNE IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
THE REFUGEES WERE LED TO FREEDOM BY A FISHERMAN, TAM CHAI, WHO TOLD POLICE THEY WERE TOO SCARED TO RETURN TO CHINA.
ALL ARE BEING CARED FOR AT A POLICE STATION WHILE POLICE OBTAIN DETAILS OF THEIR VOYAGE.
THEY WERE TOLD THAT ANOTHER EIGHT RELATIVES OF THE REFUGEES ABOARD A JUNK, WERE STOPPED BY A CHINESE GUNBOAT AS THEY NEARED HONG KONG WATERS.
TAM CHAI AND HIS RELATIVES, WHOSE AGES RANGE FROM SEVERAL MONTHS TO 85 YEARS, ARE REPORTED TO HAVE PLANNED THEIR FREEDOM BASH FOR FOUR MONTHS.
POLICE SAID THAT TAM CHAI HAD TOLD THEM HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES, BUT HAD ESCAPES AFTER BEING HELD ON THE MAINLAND FOR SEEN MONTHS.
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