FED
NAD
CONFIDENTIAL
MR MCLAREN
041365
MDHIAN 6959
ADDITIONAL
6
MR MACHIN ODA 2 COPIES
MR G-HARRISON ODA
MR FLESHER B1 DIV HO LUNAR HSE
HKGO LONDON
MRS B FAIR VSU QUEEN ANNES GTE CHOME OFFICE)
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PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
B
041210 MDLIAN 5468
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 908
OF 16034OZ MARCH 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
MIKD 24315
мкр.
TOP COPY Q DIST?
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
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