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3. ON 7 DECEMBER THERE WERE 3917 BOAT REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
IN HONG KONG AWAITING RESETTLEMENT.
4. THE NUMBER OF PLACES ACCOMMODATING THE REFUGEES HAS BEEN
REDUCED TO ABOUT 18. 1171 ARE PRESENTLY AT SHAMSHUIPO (SSP).
A FURTHER 486 SHOULD MOVE THERE NEXT WEEK AND A FURTHER 432
ON OR ABOUT 17 DECEMBER (TOTAL 2089). THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY AT SSP IS ABOUT 2100, WHICH WILL BE REACHED BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
5. THE SSP SITE IS MANAGED BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE FOR
UNHCR WHO HAVE OBTAINED ITS USE ON A SHORT LEASE, RENEWABLE
MONTHLY. THE LAND IS EARMARKED FOR REDEVELOPMENT EARLY IN 1979
AS A PARK AND SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT PART OF THE SITE WILL HAVE TO BE GIVEN UP IN MARCH AND THE REMAINDER IN JUNE: IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO DELAY THIS (BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY).
6. THE 96 FLATS WHICH COMPRISE JUBILEE BUILDINGS ARE A MAJOR NEW
SOURCE OF CHEAPER ACCOMMODATION WHICH SHOULD SOON BECOME .
AVAILABLE. NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BETWEEN UNHCR, THE
US CONSULATE-GENERAL (WHO HAVE AGREED TO UNDERWRITE THE FINANCING
OF THE PROJECT) THE OWNERS AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THERE
ARE COMPLICATIONS IN THAT THE HKG INTENDS TO RESUME THE PROPERTY
AND THE PRESENT OWNERS ARE FURSUING A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE ARMY (WHO WERE THE PREVIOUS TENANTS). IT IS HOPED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS CAN BE COMPLETED WITHIN 2-3 WEEKS. HOWEVER, IT WILL
TAKE SOME TIME AFTER THAT FOR SUFFICIENT REPAIRS TO BE
COMPLETED TO ALLOW REFUGEES TO START MOVING IN.
7. UNTIL NOW MOST REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN OVERCROWDED
AND OVER-PRICED ''HOTEL'' ROOMS, THE PER CAPITA COSTS ARE THE HIGHEST ANYWHERE FOR BOAT REFUGEES, AT SSP AND JUBILEE BUILDINGS
EACH REFUGEE WILL BE PAID A DAILY ALLOWANCE AND WILL BE RESPONSIBL
FOR BUYING HIS OWN FOOD. UNHCR ARE NOT BEING CHARGED A RENTAL
FOR SSP AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT NO RENT (OR, AT WORST, A
MINIMAL ONE) WILL BE CHARGED FOR JUBILEE BUILDINGS.
8. THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF ACCOMMODATING REFUGEES CENTRALLY ARE :
A. COSTS BBOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT ARE REDUCED : B. SIMPLER ADMINISTRATION :
C. EASIER ACCESS BY CONSULATE/UNHCR ́STAFF FOR RESETTLEMENT
INTERVIEWS ETC :
D. EASIER CONTROL OVER MOVEMENTS :
E. WELFARE WORK BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (EG LANGUAGE CLASSES)
CAN BE MORE EASILY DEVELOPED.