CONFIDENTIAL
The Cabinet -
5. Took note.
ONFIDENTI
Page 107
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Vietnamese Boat People
Previous Reference:
CC(89) 26.3
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that the recent disturbance at Sek Kong was not the first outbreak
violence in the camps in Hong Kong where the Vietnamese boat people were housed, but this was the largest camp. As time went by and hopes of resettlement faded, frustration was bound to mount. The camps had become overcrowded as a result of the high rate of new arrivals, and many Vietnamese boat people had had to be moved around quickly because of repent typhoons. During the most recent disturbarke, one person had died and a number of others had been injured. The Secretary for Security in Hong Kong had called for full report. Two investigations were now under way.
Aminal investigation was being carried out into the death he rioter which would result either in a prosecution or Acoroner's inquiry. The Police Complaints Board was looking into allegations against the police. At the same a wider report containing accounts of assaults by the police was being submitted by the United Nations High mission for Refugees (UNHCR) to the Governor of Hong Kong The UNHCR was likely to press for an independent inquiry this would be resisted by the Hong Kong Government since resent arrangements in the Colony for dealing with complaints against the police appeared adequate for examining these problems. Further criticism could be expected in press and Parliament on the issue of the Vietnamese boat people.
Japan
Previous Reference: CC(89) 15.3
new
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Susoke Uno, adesigned on 24 July following poor election results by the Liberal Democratic Party (IDP) in the Upper House elections on 23 July. Mr Uno would continue as caretaker unt Prime Minister was selected. No clear contenders had yet emerged. The LDP would probably try to choose her new leader by an open vote of LDP Diet members on 8 Augus that he could be ratified by the Diet before the mies August holiday. The LDP had now lost its overall majority in the Upper House. Annual budgets and treaties could pop be blocked, but for other legislation the IDP would news co-operation from some of the opposition parties in the Upper House. The general elections, which were due to tak
SO
Page 107
7
CONFIDENTIAL
ENTIAL
Page 107
CONFIDENTIAL