CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2661
OF 08103OZ AUGUST 89
CONFIDENTIAL
B
MK 6 213/30
DIST ?
61
010770 MDHIAN 1563
OUR TELNO 2650: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: PROTEST AT HIGH ISLAND
THE POLICE TOOK ACTION EARLY THIS MORNING TO MOVE PROTESTERS FROM
THE SITE OF THE HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE. ACCORDING TO POLICE ESTIMATES THERE WERE ABOUT 80 PEOPLE ON THE SITE WHEN THE OPERATION BEGAN AND MOST AGREED TO LEAVE QUIETLY. HOWEVER, 26 PEOPLE REFUSED TO LEAVE AND THEY WERE CARRIED TO A POLICE BUS AND DRIVEN FROM THE
SITE.
2. THE CONTRACTOR HAS RE-ENTERED THE SITE BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO
ASSEMBLE SUFFICIENT WORKERS TO RESTART THE CONSTRUCTION WORK. WE
ARE PRESSING HIM TO ENSURE THAT HE HAS SUFFICENT LABOUR TO START WORK TOMORROW AND TO COMPLETE THE PERIMETER FENCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
3. ALTHOUGH THE SITE HAS BEEN CLEARED IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT SOME
PROTESTS WILL CONTINUE. THE PROTESTERS HAVE RECEIVED A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLIC SYMPATHY, BOTH PRIOR TO THE POLICE ACTION AND SINCE. THE HIGH ISLAND ISSUE HAS BECOME A FOCUS FOR PUBLIC FRUSTRATION OVER THE
VBP ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN RENEWED CALLS FOR AN END TO THE POLICY
OF FIRST ASYLUM AND FOR URGENT ACTION TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY REPATR-
IATION. WITH THE RATE OF ARRIVALS RUNNING AT ABOUT 225 PER DAY FOR
AUGUST AND NO OBVIOUS ACTION ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION, WE CAN EXPECT FURTHER CALLS FOR A REVIEW OF THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY.
FORD
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MAIN
110
DISTRIBUTION
117
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PAGE
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CONFIDENTIAL