RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
05 FEB 1990
TELNO 280
DESK JFFICER
OF 22020OZ JANUARY 90 INDEX
PA
HK B
243/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
REGISTRY
Action Taken
DIST?
a
16.
036625 MDLIAN 2013
YOUR TELNO 190: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: PUNISHMENT CELLS AT HIGH
ISLAND CAMP
1. CONTAINERS ARE USED EXTENSIVELY IN OUR CAMPS AS OFFICES AND STORES AS WELL AS CELLS, BECAUSE THESE ARE EASY AND CHEAP TO OBTAIN AND CAN BE MOVED EASILY. ALL POLICE ACCOMMODATION AT HIGH ISLAND, AND OFFICES FOR UNHCR AND NGOS, ARE IN CONTAINERS. THE CLINIC IS ALSO A CONTAINER COMPLEX. THE REPORT ABOUT A CONTAINER BEING CONVERTED FOR USE AS CELLS AT HIGH ISLAND IS CORRECT.
2. THE CELLS MEASURE APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET BY 4 FEET. THEY HAVE WINDOWS AT BOTH ENDS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE VENTILATION. UNHCR SAW THE PLANS AND HAS NOT VOICED ANY OBJECTION SO FAR. UNDER DETENTION CENTRE RULES A SUPERINTENDENT OF A DETENTION CENTRE MAY ORDER A REFRACTORY OR VIOLENT DETAINEE TO BE CONFINED TEMPORARILY IN A CELL OR ROOM. ALSO UNDER THE RULES, A DETAINEE WHO HAS COMMITTED AN OFFENCE AGAINST DISCIPLINE MAY BE KEPT APART FROM OTHER DETAINEES PENDING ADJUDICATION. A PERSON DETAINED IN A CELL HAS A MINIMUM OF
ONE HOUR EXERCISE OUTSIDE THE CELL EACH DAY.
3. WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF INSULATING THE ROOFS OF THE CONTAINERS, NOT ONLY OF THE CELLS BUT ALSO OF THE OFFICES, IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER. WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THE CELLS WILL BE EXCESSIVELY HOT IN THE SUMMER OR THAT THEIR USE WILL BE INHUMANE. HOWEVER THE POLICE WILL USE THEIR DISCRETION AND THOSE WHO NEED TO BE SEGREGATED FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD WILL, IF NECESSARY, BE TRANSFERRED TO PURPOSE BUILT PREMISES IN OTHER CAMPS.
WILSON
YYYY