CONFIDENTIAL
016371
MDHOAN 1143
CL LY
EMPLOYED WAS SIMPLY AS A DEFENSIVE CONTINGENCY MEASURE.
THE REACTION OF THE BOAT PEOPLE COULD NOT BE PREDICTED WITH CERTAINTY AND, AS RECENT REPORTS HAVE SHOWN, CACHES OF HOME-MADE WEAPONS ARE COMMONPLACE IN THE CAMPS.
B. THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES HAD CONTRASTED
WITH WHAT THE BOAT PEOPLE SAW AS CRUELTY OF THE BRITISH AND HONG
KONG AUTHORITIES.
ALLEGATIONS OF CRUELTY APPEAR TO FOCUS PRINCIPALLY ON:
THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO UNHCR OR VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS
AT HONG KONG AIRPORT
ANSWER: THE RETURNEES WERE NOT TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE UNHCR OR VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS AT KAI TAK AIRPORT. INDEED, SUCH A PRESENCE WOULD NOT BE NORMAL. REPATRIATIONS OCCUR
EVERY DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD AND NEITHER UN OFFICIALS OR
THE OFFICIALS OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY ARE PRESENT ON SUCH
OCCASIONS.
THEY RECEIVED ONLY US DOLLARS 30 INSTEAD OF 50.
ANSWER: THE RETURNEES WERE NEVER PROMISED US DOLLARS 50.
IT IS TRUE THAT VOLUNTARY RETURNEES DO RECEIVE US DOLLARS 50 UNDER THE SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY UNHCR. WE SEE SOME ADVANTAGE IN THERE BEING A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER.
THEY HAD NOT BEEN PAID FOR WORK THEY HAD CARRIED OUT IN THE
CAMPS.
ANSWER: THIS CHARGE HAS ALREADY BEEN INVESTIGATED AND
BACK-PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THOSE WHO WERE OWED MONEY FOR WORK THEY HAD CARRIED OUT.
C. NONE OF THOSE INTERVIEWED HAD BEEN INVITED TO VOLUNTEER OR
SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THE APPEAL PROCEDURE.
ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS, ALL THE 51 RETURNEES HAD BEEN OFFERED THE RIGHT TO VOLUNTEER. THEY WERE AWARE OF THE APPEAL
PROCEDURE BECAUSE THEY HAD THEMSELVES BEEN THROUGH IT. THE RETURN OF VOLUNTARY FLIGHTS RECEIVE WIDE PUBLICITY IN HONG KONG AND IN THE VBP CENTRES.
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CONFIDENTIAL