TNAG-1914-FCO40-2718-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-camp-conditions-1989 — Page 8

Page

BRITISH EMBASSY

4 Chung-dong Chung-ku Seoul Republic of Korea

Telephone 735-7341/3

Facsimile (02) 733-8368

The Editor

Korea Herald

MK3 243/26

1-12 3-ga Hoehyon-dong

Chung-gu Seoul

Your reference

Our reference

Date

18 May 1989

розд (3

No idea,

CC

News Dipt

SEAD

Had

Dear Sir,

© M Filly

MR McCleary

you

مان عمها

공

PVT

шоковоль

Ma Aduthin?

%

The Korea Herald of May 18 carries a letter from a Mr Graham Adutt who gives as his address the British Embassy Seoul. I should be grateful if you would make it clear to your readership that Mr Adutt has no connection with this Embassy and the letter must not be interpreted as representing anything other than his personal view.

Your Suitfuly

bcc:

Mr Moon Ha-yong

West Europe Div I

MFA

I Kelly Esq, FED, FCO

J. Nance Esq. BRITISH COUNCIL

نام ها

W Morris

First Secretary

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 908

OF 16034OZ MARCH 89

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

12

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 243/26

CONDITIONS IN

CAMOS / CENTRE 1210

MDLIAN 5468

сн

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : GREEN ISLAND PROTEST

DURING THE EVENING OF 14 MARCH MOST OF THE 700 ECVIIS AT THE

GREEN ISLAND RECEPTION CENTRE REFUSED TO TAKE THEIR EVENING MEAL IN

PROTEST AT THE PROSPECT OF REPATRIATION TO CHINA. THE PROTEST CONTINUED DURING THE MORNING OF 15 MARCH WHEN ABOUT 150 PEOPLE BROKE OUT OF THE DORMITORIES. SOME CLIMBED ONTO THE ROOF OF THE DORMITORIES AND OTHERS BROKE THROUGH THE FENCE AND GATHERED ON

A NEARBY BEACH. THE PROTESTERS ASKED TO SEE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

GOVERNMENT AND UNHCR AND THIS WAS ARRANGED AT ABOUT MIDDAY.

2 =

THE PROTEST SUBSIDED DURING THE AFTERNOON ONCE THE ECVIIS HAD EXPLAINED TO SECURITY BRANCH OFFICIALS AND A UNHCR OFFICER THAT THEY

DID NOT WANT TO RETURN TO THE PRC. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD NOT

BEEN WELL TREATED IN GUANGXI. BY MID AFTERNOON ALL THE ECVIIS HAD RETURNED TO THE DORMITORIES AND WERE AGAIN TAKING THEIR MEALS. THERE

HAS BEEN MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUILDINGS AND FENCE AT THE RECEPTION

CENTRE AND ONE YOUNG FEMALE ECVII WAS INJURED WHEN SHE FELL FROM THE

ROOF OF ONE OF THE DORMITORIES.

3.

THIS WAS NOT A VIOLENT PROTEST BUT THE PEOPLE CONCERNED WERE INVOLVED IN AN EARLIER PROTEST ABOUT CONDITIONS ON THE FERRIES. THE

SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL BUT WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES WITH

THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP OF 373 TO CHINA. THE LOCAL PRESS

PICKED UP THE STORY AND IT MIGHT BE REFLECTED IN THE UK PRESS.

WILSON

YYYY