RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1531
OF 10090OZ MAY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
RESTRICTED
NICE 2+3/4
© MAY 1990
58
100775 MDHIAN 9928
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
STATEMENT FROM S.C.F.
WE ARE SENDING BY FAX A COPY OF A STATEMENT ISSUED BY PHILIP BARKER, THE HONG KONG FIELD DIRECTOR OF THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND (SCF), IN WHICH HE REFERS TO COMPLAINTS FROM VBP OF ILL TREATMENT DURING THE 4 MAY SEARCH AT WHITEHEAD. BARKER'S COMMENTS DURING A RADIO INTERVIEW ON 9 MAY WERE LESS MEASURED. OUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT ALL COMPLAINTS OF ILL TREATMENT WILL BE INVESTIGATED BY THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICE AND THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED WITH ANY EVIDENCE WHICH SUGGESTS THAT VBP WERE ILL TREATED. IN FACT, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS FROM BARKER, UNHCR NOR FROM VBP AT WHITEHEAD.
2. THE WHITEHEAD SEARCH WAS A DIFFICULT OPERATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE REMOVAL OF ABOUT 2,500 WEAPONS. DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES, THE POLICE AND CSD CONDUCTED THE OPERATION WITH DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT. SEARCHES WILL CONTINUE AT WHITEHEAD AND AT OTHER CAMPS AND CENTRES AS A PART OF OUR POLICY OF REMOVING BOTH WEAPONS AND GANG MEMBERS. IN PARALLEL, WE SHALL ALSO PURSUE OUR CONSULTATIONS WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMMES AND BETTER REPRESENTATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE CAMPS.
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
113
DISTRIBUTION
123
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
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