TNAG-0972-FCO40-1191-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 51

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ZCZC LTX006 261404 DXC274

YY TWX

YBX474 26-1338 YHN132

1837: PROHONGAID LONDON THREE:

GIS 395/80 (ADD)

THR GROUP'S REPORT ALSO CONTAINS RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT STREAMLINING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CAMPS AND AT IMPROVING CO-ORDINATION OF THE PROVISION OF LANGUAGE TRAINING AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE REFUGEES BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

THE REPORT FIRMLY REFUTES ALLEGATIONS, PUBLISHED 30TH IN HONG KONG AND ABROAD LAST YEAR, THAT THE FACILITIES IN GOVERNMENT CAMPS WERE GROSSLY INADEQUATE AND THAT THE REFUGEES HAD SUFFERED CONSTANT ABUSE, ASSAULT AND VARIOUS ATROCITIES METED OUT BY CAMP OFFICIALS.

THE GROUP HAS FOLLOWED UP 29 SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS COLLECTED AND PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT BY JOURNALIST DEREK MAITLAND AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT 17 OF THEM HAD NO SUBSTANCE. IN EACH OF THE OTHER 12 CASES, THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE ALLEGATION BUT THE COMPLAINANT HAD EITHER NOT TOLD THE WHOLE STORY OR HAD MISUNDERSTOOD THE TRUE POSITION.

OF THE 29 SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS INVESTIGATED BY THE GROUP, 11 CONCERNED ILL-TREATMENT OR ASSAULT BY CAMP OFFICIALS. ONLY ONE OF THESE APPEARED TO BE GENUINE BUT ACTION COULD NOT BE TAKEN

AS THE VICTIM DECIDED NOT TO LODGE A FORMAL REPORT.

}