SECRET
FM HONG KONG
460
SECRET
072023
MDHIAN 7833
HKB
243 19
TO
COP
TO
IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO
4020
OF 06105OZ DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(4-30
2435: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
YOUR TELNOS 2418 AND 2435
1 IN ANSWER TO THE POINTS RAISED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF FIRST TUR:
D
(I) SOLDIERS WILL NOT BE USED:
(B) FIREARMS WILL NOT BE CARRIED BY THE POLICE OR ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION.
(III) LEG-IRONS WILL NOT BE USED, BUT HANDCUFFS OR PLASTIC WRIST RESTRAINERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE IF NECESSARY.
(IV) CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD) TACTICAL RESPONSE SQUAD (TRS) OFFICERS ON STANDBY AT PHOENIX HOUSE WILL CARRY SHORT BATONS AS PART OF THEIR NORMAL UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT. THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT (PTU) OFFICERS INVOLVED IN MOVING THE RETURNEES TO THE AIRPORT WILL WEAR THE STANDARD PTU UNIFORM WHICH INCLUDES A SHORT BATON. THOSE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WILL NOT CARRY A SHORT BATON.
(V) IN PRINCIPLE, YES. BUT IT WOULD OF COURSE DEPEND ON THE CONDITION OF THE PERSON ON HUNGER STRIKE (SEE ALSO PARA 2 BELOW).
(VI) NO. OUR AIM WILL BE TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER.
2. THE HUNGER STRIKE AT PHOENIX HOUSE HAS ENDED FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF ONE MAN TO HOSPITAL ON 2 DECEMBER. THIS MAN IS A DIABETIC AND HE HAD BEEN REFUSING BOTH FOOD AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. HIS CONDITION DETERIORATED ON 1 DECEMBER AND IT WAS DECIDED TO MOVE HIM TO HOSPITAL. HE WAS AT FIRST UNWILLING TO MOVE: BUT HE WAS EVENTUALLY PERSUADED BY CSD OFFICERS. HE HAS NOW ACCEPTED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND HIS CONDITION IS SATISFACTORY. HE BEGAN TAKING SOLID FOOD ON 5 DECEMBER. THOSE REMAINING AT PHOENIX HOUSE BEGAN AGAIN TO ACCEPT FOOD FROM CSD OFFICERS ON 3 DECEMBER.
WILSON
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