TNAG-1916-FCO40-2720-Accommodation-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 33

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB

243/30

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2563

OF 31113OZ JULY 89

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, WASHINGTON

57

165656

MDHIAN 5134

LSIG A DOL

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: SEK KONG

1. WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED THE UNHCR REPORT UNDER COVER OF A LETTER TO ME FROM THEIR CHIEF OF MISSION ON ALLEGATIONS OF ILL TREATMENT OF VBP. THE REPORT COVERS A TOTAL OF 107 ALLEGATIONS OF WHICH 105

ARE AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS AND 2 CONCERN STAFF OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES (CAS). MOST OF THE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE OCCURRED AT SEK KONG DURING THE DISTRUBANCE ON THE NIGHT OF 23/24 JULY BUT

THERE IS ALSO A SERIES OF ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING THE ILL TREATMENT

OF VBP DURING THE PRE-TYPHOON EVACUATION FROM SEK KONG TO SAN VICK

ON 16 JULY.

2. IN PRESENTING THE REPORT THE UNHCR HAVE ASKED FOR A QUOTE

INDEPENDENT INQUIRY UNQUOTE INTO THE ALLEGATIONS. UNHCR HAVE ARGUED THAT THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE ALLEGATIONS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN OBTAINING SWIFT AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSES FROM CAPO, MAKE AN ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY ESSENTIAL.

3. DESPITE UNHCR'S REQUEST FOR AN INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY I AM CLEAR THAT WE MUST GIVE OUR WELL ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORY PROCEDURES A

PROPER CHANCE TO WORK BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY ALTERNATIVE. TO DO

OTHERWISE WOULD CONSTITUTE A WHOLLY UNJUSTIFIED AND DAMAGING VOTE

OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE NORMAL POLICY MACHINERY. WITH THE HEI LING CHAU INCIDENT I CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT AENQUIRY ONLY WHEN, AND BECAUSE, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE ORDINARY PROCEDURES, IN THIS CASE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, HAD NOT WORKED PROPERLY.

·

4 IN THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED DURING THE DISTURBANCE, A FULL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE

INVESTIGATING OFFICERS HAVE MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS. THE

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS TOLD ME THAT HE HOPES TO MAKE AN INTERIM REPORT BY MID-WEEK.

5. A FULL INVESTIGATION IS ALSO UNDERWAY ON THE OTHER ALLEGATIONS

OF ILL TREATMENT. THE POLICE HAD ALREADY MOVED QUICKLY TO

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CONFIDENTIAL