NATIONS UNIES
HAUT COMMISSARIAT POUR LES RÉFUGIÉS
Bureau du Chef de Mission
SECURITY BRANCH.
Telephone: (+852) 780-9271
Telegrams: IIICOMREF HONG KONG
Telex: 34980 UNHCR HX
Fax: (+852) 770-5504
PASSENG
+ 852 877 0636
P.02
UNITED NATIONS
HIGH COMMISSIONER
FOR REFUGEES
Office of the Chief of Mission
P.O. Box 73887
Kowloon Central Post Office Hong Kong
PRESS RELEASE
11 MAY 1990
UNHCR HAS COMMUNICATED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG ITS MOST ACUTE CONCERN AT THE MANNER IN WHICH THE OPERATION AT THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON 4 MAY WAS CONDUCTED.
THE LACK OF PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH UNHCR STAFF AND THE APPARENT ABSENCE OF ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION TO THE POPULATION AS TO THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THE OPERATION, THE USE OF VARIOUS KINDS OF TEAR GAS DIRECTED IN ENCLOSED SPACES AT A CAMP POPULATION COMPRISING LARGE NUMBERS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS WELL AS OTHER VULNERABLE PERSONS, THE REPORTED ABUSE OF ASYLUM SEEKERS DURING THE OPERATION AND THE WIDESCALE DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, CAN, IN OUR VIEW, HAVE NO RESULT BUT FURTHER TO RADICALIZE THE CENTRE POPULATION AND INCREASE THE RISKS OF EVEN MORE SERIOUS TENSIONS AND VIOLENCE.
THE FACT THAT NO SERIOUS EFFORT WAS MADE TO EITHER INFORM THE CAMPS RESIDENTS OF THE PURPOSE OF THE OPERATION PRIOR TO ITS COMMENCEMENT OR TO ELICIT THEIR COOPERATION WAS IN UNHCR'S VIEW THE MOST SERIOUS FAILURE OF THIS EXERCISE.
UNHCR HAS REITERATED TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ITS READINESS AS IN THE PAST TO CONTINUE TO COOPERATE ON WAYS OF REDUCING THE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND TENSION IN THE DETENTION CENTRES AND IN THIS CONTEXT WELCOMED THE JOINT MEETING HELD AT WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON 10 MAY AS A STEP IN THIS DIRECTION.