825
GPS 120
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED HKK 243
FM UKMIS GENEVA 021145Z NOV 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 526 OF 02 NOVEMBER
RECENTLO
INDEX
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, MANILA, WASHINGTON, INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
HONG KONG TELNO 1540: PHILIPPINES REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTRE
820
Pal
1837
(840)
1. UNHCR SAY THAT PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WERE NATURALLY RELUCTANT TO START CONSTRUCTION UNTIL AGREEMENT WITH UNHCR WAS SIGNED. THE FINAL TEXT OF AN AGREEMENT IS TO BE SENT OUT THIS WEEK-END AND IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED ON 6 NOVEMBER. CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SIGNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER.
2. UNHCR HOPE TO MOVE UP TO 2,003 REFUGEES TO THE CENTRE BEFORE NEXT YEAR. FIRST BATCH (530 FROM SUBIC BAY NAVAL BASE) COULD BE MOVED SIX WEEKS AFTER BEGINNING OF CONSTRUCTION. ALTHOUGH RPC WILL HAVE AN EVENTUAL CAPACITY OF 53,330 IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED INITIALLY FOR 13,030 AS ONLY THE FINANCE (US DOLLARS 14.6 MILLION) FOR THIS NUMBER IS AT PRESENT AVAILABLE.
MARSHALL
FILES
SEAD
HKJG D
UND
FED
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
LORD N.G-LENNOX
COPIES
то
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
RESTRICTED