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5. WE SHALL REPORT ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO ANY REPORTS OF EXCESSIVELY HARSH PUNISHMENTS.
THIS SEEMS UNLIKELY. SOME TIME AGO THERE WERE A CONSIDERABLE -NUMBER OF REPORTS OF THOSE ARRESTED HAVING THEIR HEADS SHAVED.
LATER REPORTS INDICATED THAT THIS PRACTICE HAD BEEN STOPPED ON THE · ORDERS OF CENTRAL AUTHORITIES WHO CONSIDERED THAT SUCH PUNISHMENTS
INFRINGED HUMAN RIGHTS.
6. THERE IS NO (REPEAT NO) EVIDENCE TO SUBSTANTIATE THE STORIES THAT BORDER GUARDS SHOOT TO KILL AT ORDINARY ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS. OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONAL INCIDENTS OF BORDER GUARDS SHOOTING AT INDIVIDUALS WHO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ESCAPE. THESE INCIDENTS ARE RARE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT INCREASE. WE ASSUME THAT THOSE INVOLVED HAVE ATTACKED BORDER GUARDS OR DONE SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST TRY
TO LEAVE ILLEGALLY.
CATER
FILES HRIS D FED
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO!
HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE
LONDON.
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