RESTRICTED
HKB
24319
RGKR
со
176060
MDHIAN 5079
RESTRICTED
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 103
OF 030680OZ MARCH 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO PRIOITY BANGKOK, UKMIS GENEVA, KUALA LUMPUR
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, TOKYO, PEKING
C.H
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: FIRST RETURNS
MIPT
·
1. BEAN ACCOMPANIES THE MEDIA ON THEIR VISIT TO THE TRANSIT CENTRE (SOC SON CAMP) ON THE MORNING OF 3 MARCH. THE 75 RETURNEES HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED, TEMPORARILY IN STUDENT QUARTERS IN A LARGE, PLEASANT AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL COMPOUND SOME 50 KMS NORTH OF HANOI. 21 ROOMS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOUR FAMILIES (TOTALLING 21 PEOPLE), AND 54 SINGLE PEOPLE WHO RETURNED ON 2 MARCH. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION, FURNITURE, BLANKETS, ETC, THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES ARE SUPPLYING FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES. THERE IS, ADDITIONALLY, A SMALL MEDICAL FACILITY WHERE THE AIDS AND OTHER MEDICAL TESTS ARE TO BE CARRIED OUT.
THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO PROVIDED
A READING ROOM, STOCKED WITH VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.
2. THE FOREIGN MEDIA CONTINGENT HAVE BEEN GIVEN UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE RETURNEES IN THE TRANSIT CENTRE. THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE COOPERATED FULLY WHEN DEALING WITH THE PRESS, AND HAVE HELPED CONVEY THE RIGHT IMPRESSION ABOUT THE FATE OF THE RETURNING VIETNAMESE. COMMENTS FROM THE MEDIA APPEAR TO FOCUS ON: THE WELCOME ACCORDED THE RETURNEES: THE APPARENT HAPPINESS OF THESE PEOPLE AT BEING HOME: AND THE AIRY AND SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATION BY COMPARISION TO THAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN HONG KONG. AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VIETHAMESE TV STATIONS WERE ALSO PRESENT, IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THIS EVENT WILL HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT WITHIN VIETHAM AS WELL AS IN HONG KONG.
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