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067147
MDHIAN 9423
HKB 243/t
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1479
OF 070505Z MAY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, HANOI, PEKING, HKGO LONDON
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OUR TELNO 1465: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: WHITEHEAD
TUR CONTAINED A BRIEF REPORT OF THE POLICE AND CSD SEARCH OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON 4 MAY. YOU MIGHT FIND IT USEFUL TO HAVE A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE OPERATION AND THE RESULTS.
ABOUT 1000 POLICE AND 200 CSD OFFICERS WERE DEPLOYED TO WHITEHEAD AT DAY BREAK ON 4 MAY. THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH SEARCH OF THE CENTRE. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE RESISTANCE TO THE SEARCH, PARTICULARLY IN SECTION 6. TWO POLICE OFFICERS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED NO REPORTS OF INJURIES TO VBP.
THE POLICE DISCHARGED 106 ROUNDS OF GAS DURING THE OPERATION WHICH WAS COMPLETED BY 17:00. A TOTAL OF 2500 WEAPONS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE CAMP AND REMOVED.
THIS OPERATION SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF A BROADER EFFORT TO IMPROVE SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT AT WHITEHEAD. THE REMOVAL OF THE WEAPONS WAS AN ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH BY THE REMOVAL OF TROUBLE MAKERS AND GANG MEMBERS TO A HIGHER SECURITY CAMP AT CHI MA WAN. IN THE MEANTIME, WE INTEND TO CONSULT THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND UNHCR ON AN EXPANSION OF AGENCY PROGRAMMES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER COMMUNITY STRUCTURES. OUR OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO INVOLVE THE VBP MORE IN THE RUNNING OF THE CENTRE AND TO PROVIDE MORE WORK AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
WHITEHEAD HAS BEEN CALM SINCE THE OPERATION BUT CSD AND POLICE HAVE REMAINED ON A HEIGHTENED ALERT. OUR MAIN DIFFICULTY NOW IS TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THE POLICE AND CSD ARE ENTIRELY CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAMPS. INITIAL BREAK-OUT HAS BROUGHT RENEWED CALLS FOR SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AND FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS TO GUARD THE PERIMETER OF THE CAMPS.
THE
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