CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2563
OF 31113OZ JULY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, WASHINGTON
57
165656
MDHIAN 5134
LSIG A DOL
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: SEK KONG
1. WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED THE UNHCR REPORT UNDER COVER OF A LETTER TO ME FROM THEIR CHIEF OF MISSION ON ALLEGATIONS OF ILL TREATMENT OF VBP. THE REPORT COVERS A TOTAL OF 107 ALLEGATIONS OF WHICH 105
ARE AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS AND 2 CONCERN STAFF OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES (CAS). MOST OF THE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE OCCURRED AT SEK KONG DURING THE DISTRUBANCE ON THE NIGHT OF 23/24 JULY BUT
THERE IS ALSO A SERIES OF ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING THE ILL TREATMENT
OF VBP DURING THE PRE-TYPHOON EVACUATION FROM SEK KONG TO SAN VICK
ON 16 JULY.
2. IN PRESENTING THE REPORT THE UNHCR HAVE ASKED FOR A QUOTE
INDEPENDENT INQUIRY UNQUOTE INTO THE ALLEGATIONS. UNHCR HAVE ARGUED THAT THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE ALLEGATIONS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN OBTAINING SWIFT AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSES FROM CAPO, MAKE AN ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY ESSENTIAL.
3. DESPITE UNHCR'S REQUEST FOR AN INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY I AM CLEAR THAT WE MUST GIVE OUR WELL ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORY PROCEDURES A
PROPER CHANCE TO WORK BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY ALTERNATIVE. TO DO
OTHERWISE WOULD CONSTITUTE A WHOLLY UNJUSTIFIED AND DAMAGING VOTE
OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE NORMAL POLICY MACHINERY. WITH THE HEI LING CHAU INCIDENT I CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT AENQUIRY ONLY WHEN, AND BECAUSE, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE ORDINARY PROCEDURES, IN THIS CASE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, HAD NOT WORKED PROPERLY.
·
4 IN THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED DURING THE DISTURBANCE, A FULL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE
INVESTIGATING OFFICERS HAVE MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS. THE
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS TOLD ME THAT HE HOPES TO MAKE AN INTERIM REPORT BY MID-WEEK.
5. A FULL INVESTIGATION IS ALSO UNDERWAY ON THE OTHER ALLEGATIONS
OF ILL TREATMENT. THE POLICE HAD ALREADY MOVED QUICKLY TO
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