CONFIDENTIAL
032067 MDHIAN 2331
8.
THE VBP ISSUE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE ENORMOUS COVERAGE IN BOTH THE CHINESE AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRESS AND IN TV AND
RADIO REPORTS. EVERY ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM IS WELL COVERED. OVER THE PAST MONTH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EDITORIALS IN THE CHINESE PRESS CALLING FOR AN END TO THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY AND
THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION. THE
ENGLISH PRESS TENDS TO FOCUS MORE ON CAMP CONDITIONS AND UNHCR
COMPLAINTS. WE ARE SENDING BY FAX A FEW ARTICLES AND COMMENT-
ARIES WHICH HAVE APPEARED RECENTLY WHICH WE THINK ARE REPRES-
ENTATIVE OF THE GENERAL TONE OF PRESS COMMENT. THE PIECE BY MARGARET NG IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST IS A PARTICULARLY LUCID ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM AND LOCAL SENTIMENT.
9.
OUR MAIN CONCERN IS THAT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF RISING EMOTION AND FRUSTRATION IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAJOR INCIDENT, PARTICULARLY IF IT INVOLVED LOCAL PEOPLE CLASHING WITH VBP OR INJURY TO POLICE OR CSD OFFICERS, COULD PROVOKE WIDESPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO REDUCE TENSIONS IN THE CAMPS BY STRENGTHENING MANAGEMENT, THINNING OUT NUMBERS AND PROVIDING BETTER FOOD. WE ARE IMPROVING SECURITY TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CONFRONTATION BETWEEN VBP AND LOCAL RESIDENTS. ABOVE ALL, WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID TAKING ANY ACTION WHICH IS PROVOCATIVE TO VBP OR HONG KONG PEOPLE. BUT, ALL THAT SAID, THE RISK OF SERIOUS TROUBLE ARISING FROM SOME UNFORESEEN EVENT MUST REMAIN A REAL POSSIBILITY.
FORD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
109
DISTRIBUTION
116
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PAGE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
3
CONFIDENTIAL
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