The Chinese Government yesterday strongly condemned illegal immigration organizers who reap exorbitant profits by sacrificing people's lives.

Shocked by the death of 58 Chinese stowaways in the British port of Dover, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao urged the international community to plug loopholes that make illegal immigrant traffic easier in certain countries.

The 58 stowaways, in their early 20s, died in the suffocating heat of the container of a lorry that arrived in Dover last Sunday. Among the dead, 54 were men and four were women. Two survived. Zhu expressed sympathy for the deceased.

The deaths in Dover result from an international crime deliberately plotted and instigated by "snakeheads," a term for people smugglers, Zhu said.

The spokesman said the criminal gangs, taking advantage of flaws in other countries' laws, often get would-be immigrants to apply for political asylum in their target countries and often succeed.

"The international community, especially those target countries, should be sharply aware of the fact, and never again give the gangs any possible opportunities," Zhu said. "Relevant countries should co-operate to crack down on inhuman trafficking in human beings."

China has always fought hard against illegal immigration, Zhu said.

"Clamping down on international organized criminal gangs is an important and effective means to stop stowaways and illegal immigration," the spokesman said.

He said China has been watching investigation results in Britain and keeping close contact with Britain. China is ready to offer assistance, he said. China will work with British police on a thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

No final announcement on the deceased people's nationality has come out, but sources from the Information Section of the British Embassy in Beijing indicated that the British police believe the stowaways are from East China's Fujian Province. Legal and political sources of the province told China Daily yesterday that most people going abroad here go through legal channels.

The two survivors have left the hospital and moved to safety under police guard, British police told China Daily last night by telephone.

The Dutch lorry driver, meanwhile, was in custody at a British police station

An examination of the deceased found respiratory failure was the cause of death, according to information from Britain's Kent County Constabulary.

(China Daily 06/23/2000)