UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 26120OZ FCO
TELNO 2518
OF 26110OZ JULY 89
ADVANCE COPY
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
154572 MDADAN 7847
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: DISTURBANCE AT SEK KONG
IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUESTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY,
MR GEOFFREY BARNES, TODAY EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN AT THE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE AT SEK KONG LAST SUNDAY.
QUOTE. SINCE MY RETURN FROM THE ICIR STEERING COMMITTEE IN BANGKOK, I HAVE CALLED FOR FULL REPORTS ON THE INCIDENT FROM THE POLICE.
I AM ALSO EXPECTING A REPORT BY THE UNHCR. I AM, OF COURSE, VERY CONCERNED AT WHAT HAS OCCURRED.
WHEN LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE KEPT COOPED UP IN CAMPS, PARTICULARLY IN HOT WEATHER, THERE IS BOUND TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF DISCOMFORT AND FRUSTRATION. THIS IS REGRETTABLE, BUT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT INEVITABLE. TEMPERS BECOME SHORT AND INCIDENTS ARE BOUND TO OCCUR OCCASIONALLY.
ON THIS OCCASION, I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT SPARKED OFF THE VIOLENCE WERE POLICE ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT DETAINEES FROM SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF THE CAMP THROUGH HOLES CUT IN THE FENCE. THERE IS ALSO CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE OF UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AND ROCK-THROWING BY ANGRY CROWDS OF DETAINEES. SUCH VIOLENCE IS TO BE DEPLORED. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION IS NOW FIRMLY UNDER CONTROL.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS FROM DETAINEES OF UNDULY ROUGH HANDLING
BY THE POLICE. ALL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT STAFF CONCERNED WILL BE FULLY AND SWIFTLY INVESTIGATED.
WE ARE LOOKING INTO A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS BY THE DETAINEES
ABOUT CONDITIONS IN THE CAMPS AND EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME
IMPROVEMENTS.
I BELIEVE THAT DESPITE THE ENORMOUS DIFFICULTIES WHICH THE FLOOD OF ARRIVALS HAS CAUSED THIS YEAR, ALL CONCERNED HAVE DEALT WITH APPALLINGLY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS WITH GREAT SKILL AND PATIENCE. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE STANDARDS OF CAMP MANAGEMENT HAVE BEEN VERY
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