CONFIDENTIAL
Α
(ICG).
There is however significant feeling in Australia against repatriation.
A delegation of 4 Vietnamese from Sydney presented to the Embassy a petition signed by 7,000 people addressed to the Australian and Thai Ambassadors. (Details in reference telegram A).
Talks with Vietnam
4. A first round of talks between British and Hong Kong officials
and the Vietnamese took place at the invitation of the Vietnamese on
3-4 August. They ended inconclusively. The Vietnamese insisted on
voluntary returns, and reintegration assistance for returnees. We
pressed for effective measures to stop departures and the return of
all who are not refugees. Similar talks between Malaysia and
Vietnam ended in agreement on voluntary returns. In earlier talks
between UNHCR and the Vietnamese UNHCR pressed the Vietnamese to
accept the return of all non-refugees.
Allegations of ill-treatment of boat people at Hei Ling Chau
5.
There have been allegations of ill-treatment of Vietnamese boat
people following disturbances at the Hei Ling Chau centre, which
accommodates some of the post 16 June arrivals. The allegations
emerged in telegrams from the local UNHCR representative which were
leaked to the press. They have been taken up by human rights groups
in the US. The Hong Kong Government have conducted an internal
inquiry which has found no evidence to support the allegations.
Governor of Hong Kong has now also decided to hold an independent
enquiry to demonstrate impartiality and to clear the air.
Conditions in the boat people centres
The
B
C
6.
There has been some criticism of the conditions in which some of
the Vietnamese boat people are held. (This has come from several
quarters including Australia. A recent article appeared in 'The
Australian' and two advertisements appeared in 'The Australian' and
'The Sydney Morning Herald', calling on the Prime Minister to close one newly established emergency centre at San Yick.) The Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 285Page 286