TNAG-2061-FCO40-2939-Vietnamese-boat-people-conditions-in-the-refugee-camps-in-Ho-1990 — Page 21

As a sakit pra mákattad sharida man, a ha

CONFIDENTIAL

59

105300

MDHIAN 0158

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1561

OF 11110OZ MAY 90

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON

HKB 243 14

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : WHITEHEAD

1. WE ARE SENDING BY FAX A COPY OF A UNHCR LETTER AND STATEMENT CONCERNING ALLEGATIONS OF ILL TREATMENT DURING A SEARCH OF THE WHITEHEAD CENTRE ON 4 MAY. WE ARE ALSO SENDING A COPY OF A PRESS STATEMENT WHICH WAS ISSUED HERE BY UNHCR EARLIER TODAY. THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WILL REPLY TO THE ACTING HEAD OF MISSION EARLY NEXT WEEK. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNHCR ARE ALSO PREPARING COMPLAINTS FROM VBP AT WHITEHEAD AND THAT THESE WILL BE PRESENTED TO US NEXT WEEK. ALL SUCH COMPLAINTS WILL BE REFERRED TO CAPO FOR INVESTIGATION.

2. IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES WE HAVE TAKEN THE FOLLOWING LINE:

(A) THE SEARCH OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON 4 MAY WAS CARRIED OUT IN ORDER TO FIND AND REMOVE DANGEROUS WEAPONS. IT TOOK PLACE AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF INTIMIDATION BY GANGS OF OTHER VBP, ASSAULTS ON STAFF, ARMED ESCAPES AND POSSESSION OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS. THESE ARE SERIOUS OFFENCES AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN THE RULE OF LAW INSIDE THE DETENTION CENTRES. THE RESULT OF THE SEARCH WAS THAT MORE THAN 2,5000 DANGEROUS WEAPONS WERE REMOVED FROM THE CENTRE.

(B) THE SEARCH BEGAN EARLY IN THE MORNING SO AS TO MINIMISE THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENT RESISTANCE WHICH WOULD HAVE POSED A DANGER TO

BOTH POLICE OFFICERS AND THE LAW ABIDING MAJORITY OF VBP. AS THE

SEARCH BEGAN THE POLICE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE CAMP POPULATION THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE OPERATION WAS SIMPLY TO SEARCH FOR WEAPONS.

(C) THE SEARCH WAS CARRIED OUT WITH THE MINIMUM USE OF FORCE. THERE

WAS A REAL THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THE POLICE AND CSD OFFICERS INVOLVED AND TO THE GREAT MAJORITY OF VBP WHO ARE AS ANXIOUS AS THE GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE BOTH WEAPONS AND GANG MEMBERS. THE POLICE AND CSD CARRIED OUT THEIR DIFFICULT TASK WITH GREAT DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT.