051143.
COMMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 021400Z FCO
TELNO 3234
OF 021250Z SEPTEMBER 88
HKD 243/8
RECEIVE ON REGISTRY
- 5SEP 1988
FICER
PA
Ione
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, UKMIS GENEVA INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
219
MY TELNO 3200 (NOT TO UKMIS GENEVA AND WASHINGTON) = VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG:
HEI LING CHAU DISTURBANCES
1. I WAS MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE IN YOUR TELNO 2214. PLEASE PASS ON MY THANKS TO THE PRISONS INSPECTORATE FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP.
IN CONSIDERING FURTHER HOW TO PROCEED I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT RIGHT WAY FORWARD IS TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY WITHIN HONG KONG.
I HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED TO APPOINT TWO JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (ONE OF WHOM IS A QC) WITH THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE:
''TO HEAR COMPLAINTS, AS JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AT HEI LING CHAU ON 18 AND 19 JULY, TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE IS SUBSTANCE IN THEM AND TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR BY 30 SEPTEMBER 1998’*
THE JPS I HAVE SELECTED ARE MR DENIS CHANG, QC, THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION, AND DR EDWARD PATERSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL IN KWUN TONG. BOTH ARE WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF MIND. THEY CERTAINLY CANNOT BE SEEN AS UNDER THE SWAY OF THE GOVERNMENT. WHETHER OR NOT ANY FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED WILL HAVE TO BE DECIDED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR REPORT.
4. MIFT CONTAINS A DRAFT PRESS RELEASE THAT WE PROPOSE TO ISSUE AT ABOUT MID-DAY TOMORROW (3 SEPTEMBER). BY THAT THE TIME THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WILL HAVE BRIEFED HIS STAFF ON THIS DEVELOPMENT AND THE REASONS FOR IT.
5. I HAVE TOLD THE LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONFIDENCE OF THE ACTION WE PROPOSE TO TAKE. I STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THEM PUTTING FORWARD ANY EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGATIONS.
6. WE WILL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY AFTER THE WEEK-END ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO HAVE SENT MESSAGES OF PROTEST ABOUT ALLEGED MALTREATMENT.
WILSON
737
YYYY ADVANCE HD/HKD
B
1
ין
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.