XN000022-1992-02-04 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1992

"IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN TO BE ACCOMMODATED TOGETHER. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE IN THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION CAMP IN LO WU. IN THE MAIN DETENTION CENTRES, VIETNAMESE FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE SOUTH ARE LARGELY SEPARATED.

WE

"SECURITY OF DETENTION CENTRES IS CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW. HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN OTHER CAMPS. WE CERTAINLY HOPE NOT. BUT CLEARLY WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR VIGILANCE IN OTHER CAMPS.

"OUR LATEST FIGURES ARE THAT THERE ARE 21 DEATHS AND 128 INJURIES. OF THE INJURED, 53 ARE STILL IN HOSPITAL, SEVEN ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION,

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INCIDENT AT SHEK KONG VIETNAMESE DETENTION CENTRE

* * *

AT THE SHEK OCCUPANTS

ABOUT 11 PM LAST NIGHT, A FIGHT BROKE OUT AT SECTION KONG VIETNAMESE DETENTION CENTRE. THIS LATER LED ΤΟ OF SECTION D OF THE CENTRE BREAKING DOWN THE GATE THE TWO SECTIONS AND JOINING THE FIGHT.

C

OF THE

BETWEEN

THE FIGHT INVOLVED SEVERAL HUNDRED VIETNAMESE AND ONE HUTS IN SECTION C CAUGHT FIRE.

POLICE REINFORCEMENTS WERE CALLED TO RESTORE ORDER. ROUNDS WERE DISCHARGED. ORDER WAS THEN RESTORED.

SOME 119 INJURED VIETNAMESE WERE TRANSFERRED TO HOSPITAL AND POK OI HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.

OF THE

33 SMOKE

TUEN MUN

FIRE SERVICES EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE IN THE HUT AND 17 BODIES WERE FOUND INSIDE IN A VERY BADLY BURNT CONDITION.

DEAD

AND UNTIL FIRE

THE SCENE HAS BEEN SEALED FOR FORENSIC EXAMINATION THIS IS COMPLETED, THE EXACT NUMBER OF DEATHS AND CAUSE OF THE CANNOT BE ASCERTAINED.

THE SHEK KONG DETENTION CENTRE IS A CLOSED CAMP WHICH PRESENTLY HOUSES OVER 9,000 VIETNAMESE. SECTION C IS BEING USED AS A DETENTION CENTRE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR REPATRIATION.

TEMPORARY VIETNAMESE WERE IN THIS SECTION WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED.

806

THE SITUATION IS NOW CALM AND A STRONG POLICE PRESENCE WILL STATIONED AT THE CENTRE TO MAINTAIN ORDER.

BE