TNAG-2908-FCO40-4182-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1993 — Page 71

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 18080OZ FCO TELNO 77

OF 180315Z JANUARY 93

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MDHIAN 5912

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YOUR TELNO 35: VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: MP'S LETTER: HUMAN RIGHTS.

1.

2.

ELEMENTS FOR A REPLY HAVE BEEN FAXED TO YOU.

MR.D.ATKINSON, MP AND MR.R.PARRY, MP VISITED WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE IN THE AFTERNOON OF 10 JANUARY. IN DISCUSSION, MR.ATKINSON PUT TO THE REFUGEEE CO-ORDINATOR THE ALLEGATIONS SET OUT IN THE GUARDIAN ARTICLE. THEY WERE CATEGORICALLY DENIED BUT NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO HIDE OUR CONCERN ABOUT LAW AND ORDER IN HONG KONG'S DETENTION CENTRES. MR.ATKINSON DID NOT REACT BUT HE WAS NOT CRITICAL OF LIVING CONDITIONS IN WHITEHEAD.

3. ON 11 JANUARY, MR.ATKINSON WAS BRIEFED ON OUR SCREENING PROCEDURES. THE GENERAL IMPRESSION GAINED WAS THAT HE WAS SATISIFIED ABOUT OUR RESPONSE TO HIS STATED CONCERNS. ON 13 JANUARY, FOLLOWING HIS RETURN FROM VIETNAM, MR. ATKINSON HAD A MEETING WITH UNHCR OFFICIALS HERE. VAN LEEUWEN (CHIEF OF MISSION) HAS REPORTED TO US THAT THE BRIEFING WENT EXCEPTIONALLY WELL AND THAT HE AND HIS STAFF (INCLUDING THE UNHCR OFFICIAL BASED IN HANOI WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MONITORING OF RETURNEES) SUCCESSFULLY COUNTERED VARIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE BY HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS WHICH MR.ATKINSON BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION.

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19 JAN 1993

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