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050172
MDHIAN 2550
ARRIVED IN HONG KONG AFTER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CHANGED ITS
REFUGEE POLICY ON 16 JUNE. THE DISTURBANCES STARTED WITH A
DISPUTE OVER THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD DURING THE EARLY EVENING OF 18
JULY AND CONTINUED INTO THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORING OF 19 JULY.
THE NEXT MORNING A GROUP OF ABOUT 100 PEOPLE WERE ISOLATED AND
MOVED TO THE LAI CHI KOK RECEPTION
CENTRE.
(D) DURING INTERVIEWS ON 20 JULY ALLEGATIONS OF ILLTREATMENT BY
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF WERE MADE AT FIRST BY FIVE AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, BY A TOTAL OF 47 VBP. AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED IMMEDIATELY BY THE DEPARTMENT AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
WERE CONDUCTED ON THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD ALLEGED THAT THEY HAD BEEN
MISTREATED. THESE MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN THE PRESENCE
OF UNHCR OFFICIALS.
(E) THE GOVERNOR RECIEVED THE REPORT ON THE INTERNAL CSD
INVESTIGATION IN LATE AUGUST. IN VIEW OF THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BOTH
IN HONG KONG AND INTERNATIONALLY ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS, HE HAS APPOI- NTED TWO JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (JPS), ONE OF WHOM IS A QC AND THE OTHER A SENIOR MEDICAL DOCTOR, TO HEAR THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ILLTREATMENT AND TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT AS TO WHETHER
THERE IS ANY SUBSTANCE IN THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REPORT TO
THE GOVERNOR BY 30 SEPTEMBER. THEIR FINDINGS WILL BE MADE PUBLIC.
3. WE CONFIRM THAT THE PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE APPOINTMENT OF
THE TWO JPS WAS MADE ON 3 SEPTEMBER.
WILSON
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HKGO LONDON
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DISTRIBUTION
45
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
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