CONFIDENTIAL
712
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 2204
HKD 24.3.8
DIN REGISTRY
31 AUG 1988
OFFICER
Da
REGIOT
Action
024711
MDLOAN 1353
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
OF 30150OZ AUGUST 88
N
IS
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HKD
UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 464: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: ALLEGATIONS OF
ILL TREATMENT
702
1. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE ILL TREATMENT OF BOAT PEOPLE AT THE HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE
HAVE NOW BECOME ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN THE WAY OF UNHCR'S FULL COOPERATION OVER SCREENING PROCEDURES. THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE ALSO BECOME A PROMINENT FEATURE OF CRITICAL PRESS REPORTING ON
CONDITIONS IN THE DETENTION CENTRES. THEY MAY ALSO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS IN THE US. NO DOUBT WE WOULD FACE QUESTIONS FROM MPS IF PARLIAMENT WAS IN SESSION.
2. ACCORDING TO ONE REPORT THE INTERNAL REPORT ON THE HEI LING
CHAU INCIDENT HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETED. IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW ON A PERSONAL BASIS WHAT THE CONCLUSIONS ARE AND WHAT FURTHER ACTION, IF ANY, YOU PROPOSE TO TAKE. I SHOULD THEN BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH ANY QUERIES FROM MINISTERS. AS SEEN FROM HERE, UNLESS THE EVIDENCE THAT ILL TREATMENT DID NOT (NOT) TAKE PLACE IS VERY CONCLUSIVE CALLS
AN INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY SEEM UNLIKELY TO DIE DOWN.
FOR
3. IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO RECEIVE IN THE NORMAL SERIES YOUR COMMENTS ON UKMIS GENEVA TUR, IN ORDER TO HELP US PREPARE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACTION WITH UNHCR.
HOWE
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DISTRIBUTION
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LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
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