RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2853
OF 281946Z AUGUST 89
RESTRICTED
HKB
243 130
(62)
062663
MDHIAN 3465
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
RESIDENT CLERK, PLEASE PASS TO PAUL, HKD.
OUR TELNO 2852 VBP DISTURBANCE AT TAI A CHAU.
THE POLICE WERE UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE ISLAND
YESTERDAY OR LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF RESISTANCE ENCOUNTERED AND LOGISTICAL DIFFICULTIES OF GETTING AN ADEQUATE FORCE THERE. THEY
WERE PINNED DOWN IN A SMALL AREA BY THE PIER AND UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WITHDREW TO POLICE LAUNCHES OVERNIGHT.
2.
THIS MORNING THE POLICE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH VBP REPRESENTATIVES
ON THE ISLAND IN WHICH AN UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE ALSO PARTICIPATED.
AT 1430 LOCAL TIME A LARGE FORCE OF POLICE WENT BACK ONTO THE
ISLAND AND RESUMED CONTROL WITHOUT OPPOSITION OR INCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN SO FAR A FEW ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULT, ROBBERIES AND RAPES OVERNIGHT. SEVERAL HUNDRED SOUTH VIETNAMESE AND ETHNIC CHINESE SWAM TO REFUGE ON A PONTOON ANCHORED OFFSHORE. ALTHOUGH
THERE IS EVIDENCE OF VANDALISM AND DAMAGE TO THE POLICE POST
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GUAGE THE TRUTH OF THE ALLEGATIONS. BUT THE
POLICE ARE NOW ATTEMPTING TO GATHER EVIDENCE FROM WITNESSES, AND WE EXPECT A CLEARER PICTURE TO EMERGE IN THE COMING DAYS. WE HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE, MAINLY SOUTH VIETNAMESE AND ETHNIC CHINESE, OFF THE ISLAND. THE POLICE WILL MAINTAIN A STRONG PRESENCE ON TAI A CHAU FOR THE PRESENT. WE SHALL SEND
A FULLER REPORT AS SOON AS AVAILABLE.
FORD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
117
ΜΑΙΝ
110
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
FINANCE D
LIMITED
RMD
HKD
PS
PAGE
1
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