bcc Mr C Hum
From: Sir David Wilson KCMG
香港總 督府
нко 243/18
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
842
Ms
Lowen.
UF
7 September 1988
Mix SKA+PA
си
243/9
22/4
лял дул Mr Fimon 2/4
Mrforman
Thank you for your letter of 26 August.
23/9
You will not be surprised that I take a different view on screening. As you can imagine, we did not take the decision lightly. It comes after a long period of making enormous effort to look after Vietnamese boat people against the background of growing unwillingness of countries elsewhere to provide resettlement opportunities for the thousands who arrive on our shores in the vain hope of settling, not in Hong Kong, but in the United States and elsewhere. The fact that these unfortunate people have set out on a dangerous journey with no prospect of reaching their hoped for destination is a real tragedy.
The screening procedures we have now instituted have been drawn up in strict accordance with the established UNHCR guidelines. We have been carrying out detailed discussions with UNHCR officials in Hong Kong on these procedures and I believe we are now close to an agreement on both the procedures themselves and the role of the UNHCR in monitoring the screening and appeals.
I too was very concerned to hear of the allegations of ill treatment of Vietnamese boat people at the Hei Ling Chau detention centre. You are probably aware that an internal investigation was started as soon as the allegations were made and that medical examinations were conducted in the presence of UNHCR officials. I have now received the report of this internal investigation. I have also appointed two Justices of the Peace, one of whom is a Queen's Counsel, to carry out an independent assessment of the complaints arising from the events at Hei Ling Chau.
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