CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 4275
OF 22070OZ NOVEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
CONFIDENTIAL
18
HCD 243/8
N
аго
170527
MDLIAN 6106
TOP COPY O DIST ?
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: SAN YICK
1. WE UNDERSTAND FROM COMMENTS MADE BY LOCAL UNHCR OFFICIALS THAT UNHCR GENEVA WILL REGISTER THEIR CONTINUING CONCERN OVER THE SAN YICK REFUGEE CAMP. THIS FOLLOWS VIEWS EXPRESSED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (IN PARTICULAR AUSCARE) AND THE VISIT TO HONG KONG ON 16-18 NOVEMBER OF VIEIRA DE MELLO. UKMIS GENEVA MIGHT FIND THE FOLLOWING DEFENSIVE MATERIAL USEFUL.
POINTS TO MAKE
2 =
(A) THE SAN YICK BUILDING WAS CONVERTED FOR USE AS A REFUGEE CAMP DURING MAY/JUNE IN RESPONSE TO A PRESSING ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENT FOLLOWING THE INCREASE IN ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM. ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HOUSE 5,000 REFUGEES, THE POPULATION HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 4,200.
(B) CONDITIONS IN THE BUILDING DURING JULY WERE FAR FROM SATISFACTORY, BUT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS IMPLEMENTED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
(I) THE POPULATION IN THE BUILDING HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 2,800 FOLLOWING THE MOVE OF ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE TO THE NEW PILLAR POINT TEMPORARY CAMP.
(II) THE DRAINAGE AND SANITATION SYSTEMS WERE IMPROVED IN JULY.
THE NEW KITCHEN HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND BROUGHT INTO USE.
(III) THE LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER HAS MEANT THAT THE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING TO ATTEND SCHOOL. A NEW SCHOOL WILL BECOME AVAILABLE NEAR THE CAMP DURING DECEMBER WHICH WILL REDUCE THE JOURNEY TIME FOR CHILDREN TRAVELLING TO SCHOOL. SOME RECREATIONAL SPACE HAS BEEN FOUND NEAR THE BUILDING AND IN ADDITION ADULTS LEAVE THE BUILDING ON FAMILIARISATION
VISITS.
(IV) THE LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME INCLUDES A JOB PLACEMENT SCHEME
AND IT IS HOPED THAT UP TO 200 ADULTS WILL BE FOUND OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT DURING DECEMBER.
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