RESTRICTED
3320
MDLIAN 5571
RETURNED TWO DAYS LATER HAVING RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES IN HEAVY SEAS. THE GROUP OF 107 AT SHAM SHUI PO DEMANDED A NEW BOAT AND REFUSED TO MOVE TO WHITEHEAD WHEN THEIR REQUEST WAS REJECTED.
5. HKG AND UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES EXPLAINED THE POSITION TO THE SHAM SHUI PO GROUP BUT THEY REFUSED TO CO-OPERATE. THEIR REQUEST FOR A VISA WAS PASSED ON TO THE JAPANESE CONSULATE. NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE JAPANESE HAVE REFUSED THE REQUEST. TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A SEAWORTHY BOAT CAPABLE OF REACHING JAPAN WOULD COST ABOUT HKD1 MILLION AND THIS REQUEST HAS ALSO BEEN TURNED DOWN. THE ONLY REALISTIC OPTIONS FOR THIS GROUP ARE TO REMAIN IN DETENTION OR TO RETURN TO VIETNAM.
REMOVAL FROM SHAM SHUI PO
6. 120 CSD OFFICERS TOOK PART IN THE OPERATION TO MOVE THE 107 VBP TO THE WHITEHEAD CENTRE. THEY WORE TRACK SUITS AND DID NOT CARRY ANTI-RIOT EQUIPMENT. MOST OF THE VBP RESISTED AND HAD TO BE CARRIED TO AND FROM THE VEHICLES. THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF STRUGGLING AND SHOUTING. 15 CSD OFFICERS AND 2 VBP RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. UNHCR FIELD OFFICERS WERE ON HAND THROUGHOUT THE OPERATION. THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE CSD OFFICERS CARRIED OUT THEIR DIFFICULT TASK WITH RESTRAINT AND PATIENCE. AT OUR PROMPTING, THE UNHCR LOCAL OFFICE HAVE MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO THIS EFFECT. THERE WILL NO DOUBT BE CLAIMS FROM SOME OF THE VBP THAT THEY WERE ILL TREATED DURING THE MOVE BUT WE UNDERSTAND FROM UNHCR THAT THEY REGARD SUCH CLAIMS AS UNFOUNDED.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
112
DISTRIBUTION
121
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR P J WESTON
MR GILLMORE
PAGE
2
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