so far maintained, but it cannot be expected to accept for
permanent residence refugees from Vietnam other than those who
have close family connections with Hong Kong.
To help relieve the acute accommodation problems which UNHCR
faces, Hong Kong have offered to hand over the Kai Tak North Camp
(6,000) not later than 1 June. However, by about 7 May additional
places will become available in existing UNHCR camps. Hong Kong
would like the new accommodation to be occupied by refugees at
present in Government accommodation (including women and children
for whom they have only been able to find room in prisons) and,
generally speaking, in order of arrival. But many of those who
have been waiting longest have come via China and are not at
present acceptable to the UNHCR's local representatives.
UNITED KINGDOM PERMANENT MISSION
GENEVA
3 May 1979
-3-
Page 45Page 46