CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3116
CONFIDENTIAL
678
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
002353
MDHIAN 0967
HKD 243
RECKWELL IN REG
22 AUG 1988
8
OF 22111OZ AUGUST 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, HANOI, PEKING
OFFICER
INDL
A
N
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: HEI LING CHAU DISTURBANCES
THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POSTS' MAIN STORY TODAY CONCERNED
ALLEGATIONS THAT CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD) STAFF HAD
BEATEN VBP IN THE HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE FOLLOWING THE
DISTURBANCES IN JULY. THE STORY WAS BASED ON UNHCR DOCUMENTS WHICH
HAD BEEN LEAKED TO ANNE QUAN. WE DO NOT THINK THAT THIS WAS A
DELIBERATE ATTEMPT BY THE UNHCR LOCALLY TO EMBARRESS THE HKG.
WE SUSPECT THAT THIS IS THE WORK OF A JUNIOR UNHCR STAFF MEMBER OR A VOLUNTEER WORKER.
WE HAVE IN FACT DISCUSSED THE ALLEGATIONS WITH THE UNHCR AND AN
INTERNAL CSD INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE. WE HOPE TO HAVE THE FINAL REPORT FROM THIS INVESTIGATION, AND THE SUPPORTING MEDICAL REPORTS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ON THE BASIS OF A PRELIMINARY REPORT IT WOULD SEEN THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGATIONS AND WE HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT TO THIS EFFECT.
ONCE WE HAVE THE REPORT WE WILL MAKE A FULLER STATEMENT. WE WILL
OF COURSE KEEP YOU INFORMED OF DEVILOPMENTS.
SEE 1616
623
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
107
.VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
DISTRIBUTION
110
FED
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PAGE
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CONFIDENTIAL