CONFIDENTIAL
032067
MDHIAN 2331
4. OUR DIFFICULTIES OVER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW DETENTION
CENTRES CAME TO A HEAD OVER THE HIGH ISLAND PROJECT. AT ONE STAGE MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE GATHERED ON THE SITE TO PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION WORK FROM PROCEEDING. THE PROTESTERS GAINED WIDES- PREAD PUBLIC SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT. THERE WERE DEMONSTRATIONS FROM TAXI DRIVERS, GROUPS OF FISHERMAN STUDENTS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND OF COURSE THE DISTRICT BOARD, IN SUPPORT OF THE PROTEST. ALTHOUGH THE POLICE HANDLED THE CLEARANCE OPERATION GENTLY AND WITH GREAT FOREBEARANCE, THE TELEVISION PICTURES OF PROTESTERS BEING REMOVED FROM THE SITE BROUGHT MORE EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT. THERE WERE FURTHER PROTESTS NEAR THE SITE AND
MARCHES AND RALLIES IN TUEN MUN AND AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. PETITIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN PRESENTED TO THE US CONSULTATE AND THE
UNHCR CALLING ON THE USA AND THE UNHCR NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE
INTRODUCTION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION.
5. WE SHALL HAVE TO THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE DECIDING TO
PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANOTHER DETENTION CENTRE ON A NEW SITE. INDEED, WE JUDGE THE POLITICAL RISKS OF DOING SO TO BE SO HIGH THAT WE MAY NOW NEED TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE SOKOS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN CONSIDERING ANY NEW HONG KONG ISLAND OR MAINLAND SITES.
6.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS REMAIN HOSTILE TO ANY
SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT HAVE TO APPROACH THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO COVER EITHER CAPITAL OR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE. THE GENEROUS UK CONTRIBUTION OF UKP 4.5 HAS MEAN THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COVER OUR EXISTING CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME BUT THE FUNDING OF ANY FURTHER PROJECTS
WILL PRESENT SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES. MIFT CONTAINS OUR THOUGHTS
ON THE OPTIONS FOR FUNDING FUTURE DETENTION CENTRE PROJECTS.
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7 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO CONTINUE TO CALL FOR EARLY MANDATORY REPATRIATION OR A REVISION OF OUR PRESENT POLICIES. FOR EXAMPLE THE SENIOR LEGCO MEMBER MR ALLEN LEE HAS EXPRESSED
HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF CURRENT POLICIES. AND MR
STEPHEN CHEONG SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA ON 12 AUGUST ON BEHALF OF
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S SECURITY PANEL SAID THAT IN HIS VIEW
THE GOVERNMENT HAD A LIMIT OF TWO MONTHS IN WHICH EITHER TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY REPATRIATION OR TO INITIATE A REVIEW OF ITS PRESENT POLICIES (I.E. FIRST ASYLUM, SCREENING ETC). WE BELIEVE THAT THESE VIEWS REPRESENT THE MAINSTREAM MAJORITY VIEW WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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