How We Investigated Secret Deportations Of Asians From UK & Australia: The Making Of The Exiles

CNA’s award-winning two-part documentary The Exiles highlighted the racially-motivated deportations of Asian men from post-World War Two Australia and the United Kingdom. Series producer and director Tom St John Gray talks about what went into the team's year-long investigations, and how he followed the trail of maritime records - including previously classified government records. They also had to track down family members and descendants of the missing across the world.

The series picked up awards including Best History and Personalities/Portraits (Silver) at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2023 and the Best Factual Programme Made In Asia For Multiple Markets at the ContentAsia Awards 2023.

00:00 Intro
00:38 How I came across the story of the exiles
01:18 Who were the Liverpool Chinese seamen
02:13 Why Chinese seamen mysteriously disappeared in the 1940s
03:18 Meeting their British descendants
04:59 A breakthrough during filming
05:55 Finding evidence on eBay & in maritime logs
07:40 Declassified documents from Britain’s National Archives
07:59 A twist in the research: ‘White Australia’ deportations
08:55 Rare footage of deported Chinese and Malay seamen
10:08 Tracking down Singapore descendants
11:09 Filming an emotional family reunion in Australia
12:47 A granddaughter’s story
14:29 Lessons for today’s racism issues

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WATCH MORE of The Exiles
My Stolen Chinese Father: Victims Of UK's Racist Past:    • My Stolen Chinese Father: Victims Of ...  
The Untold Generational Trauma From The 'White Australia Policy':    • The Untold Generational Trauma From T...  

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