CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
RECE
STRY
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
4 AUG 1988
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2947
INL
OF 041130Z AUGUST 88
OMS...
616
TOP COPY
DIST ? 135037
MDHIAN 9433
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: HUNGER STRIKE AT HEI LING CHAU
SUMMARY
ON 4 AUGUST THE VBPS AT HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE STAGED A
HUNGER STRIKE IN PROTEST ABOUT THE TALKS ON REPATRIATION ΙΝ ΗΑΝΟΙ.
THEY HAVE DEMANDED A GUARANTEE FROM THE UNHCR AND HKG THAT NO VBPS WOULD BE REPATRIATED, FAILING WHICH THE HUNGER STRIKE WOULD CONTINUE FOR ATLEAST THREE DAYS.
DETAILS
2. THE VBPS AT HEI LING CHAU CAME TO KNOW ABOUT THE REPATRIATION TALKS IN HANOI THROUGH A BRIEFING BY THE DEPUTY CHARGE DE MISSION UNHCR ON 2 AUGUST AND SUBSEQUENT TV NEWS PROGRAMMES.
3. ON 4 AUGUST, ALL VBPS INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN REFUSED TO TAKE BREAKFAST. AT 1000 HRS, THE REPRESENTATIVES ASKED THE CAMP MANAGEMENT TO ARRANGE FOR THEM TO MEET UNHCR. WE AGREED TO THIS IN ORDER TO CONTAIN THE SITUATION. UNHCR OFFICIALS HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THE CAMP FOR SOME TIME, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVOCATIVE TO DENY SUCH ACCESS NOW. AT 11.30 HRS KARIM OF UNHCR MET A GROUP OF HUT REPRESENTATIVES. OFFICERS FROM CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD) AND SECURITY BRANCH (SB) WERE PRESENT AS OBSERVERS DURING THE
DISCUSSION.
4. KARIM EXPLAINED THE UNHCR'S POSITION ON THE QUESTION OF REPATRIAT-
ION. HIS LINE WITHE REPRESENTATIVES WAS THAT :
(A) NO GENUINE REFUGEE WOULD BE REPATRIATED AGAINST HIS WILL:
(B) NON-REFUGEES WOULD ONLY BE REPATRIATED IF THERE WERE A GUARANTEE FROM THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT OF THEIR SAFE RETURN.
5. THE BOAT PEOPLE REPRESENTATIVES MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS TO
KARIM: