XN000022-1992-02-04 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1992

STATEMENT BY S FOR S ON INCIDENT IN SHEK KONG CENTRE

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THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TODAY (TUESDAY) ON THE INCIDENT IN SHEK KONG DETENTION CENTRE:

"THIS IS A GREAT TRAGEDY. WE ARE ALL DISTRESSED BY IT AND OUR SYMPATHY GOES TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BEREAVED, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY. WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE UNHCR AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THE CAMPS TO HELP AND COMFORT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

"THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS CRIMINAL ACT. IT WAS A DELIBERATE ATTACK UPON A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE HUT AND APPEARS TO BE A DELIBERATE CASE OF ARSON. IT IS THEREFORE BEING TREATED AS A SERIOUS CRIME AND BEING INVESTIGATED AS A SERIOUS CRIME. THIS IS PRIORITY IN DEALING WITH THE INCIDENT.

OUR FIRST

"THE STAFFING LEVEL OF POLICE IN THE CENTRE AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE INCIDENT WAS NORMAL. SHEK KONG HAS FOR A LONG TIME BEEN A VERY PEACEFUL CAMP. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY TROUBLE EXCEPT A RELATIVELY MINOR DISPUTE YESTERDAY EVENING OVER THE HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION. IT SEEMED THAT SOMEHOW THE MINOR INCIDENT WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED DID LATER FLARE UP INTO A MAJOR AND TRAGIC INCIDENT,

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"WE SHOULD NOT CONFUSE THE CAUSES OF THIS TRAGEDY WITH INCIDENT WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT. I DO NOT THINK THAT 21 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BURNT TO DEATH BECAUSE OF A LACK OF HOT WATER SUPPLY. IT IS A MUCH DEEPER PROBLEM WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH, WHICH IS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STUCK IN CAMPS WHO DO NOT WISH TO BE STUCK IN CAMPS. THEY DON'T INDEED WISH TO BE IN HONG KONG AT ALL.

"THIS TRAGEDY IS BOUND TO CAUSE CONCERN IN SOME OTHER DETENTION CENTRES. IT IS CLEARLY BETTER THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE TOLD VERY CLEARLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED RATHER THAN THAT RUMOURS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CIRCULATE. THEREFORE WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE FACTS ARE EXPLAINED CAREFULLY AND CLEARLY TO PEOPLE IN OTHER DETENTION CENTRES.

LOVING.

"THE MAJORITY OF VIETNAMESE IN DETENTION CENTRES ARE PEACE

"THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF EMOTIONS IN THE CENTRE CAUSED BY THE ORDERLY RETURN PROGRAMME. ON THE CONTRARY, THE NEWS OF REPATRIATION HAD BEEN TAKEN VERY CALMLY IN THE CAMPS. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY CONNECTION WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT AND REPATRIATION. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT TENSION IN DETENTION CENTRES HAD INCREASED AS A RESULT OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM LAST OCTOBER ON ORDERLY REPATRIATION.

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