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CONFIDENT I AL
If UNHCR cannot come up with the money, HKG will again look to us.
The total bill for 1989-90 will be about HK$ 170M.
Situation in the Camps
17. The situation really is desperate. There has been a succession
of riots in the camps with two deaths in violent incidents. The
riots mostly result from interfactional disputes. One of the deaths is likely to have resulted from excessive use of force by the police
and this is being investigated through the Complaints Against the
Police Office.
18. In July/August the rate of arrivals became such that a barren
island, Tai a Chau in the Soko group of islands had to be used for
temporary accommodation. At one stage there were some 5,000 VBPs
on the island in extremely primitive conditions. Cholera broke out.
With the need to evacuate Tai a Chau because of the cholera, all
camps are now over 50% above capacity. All available ferries are in
There is effectively no more space available at present. Hong Kong has about 25,000 places under construction, which will become
available before the end of the year. But this will not provide any
reserve for next year. The telegram from the Governor at Annex B
sets out the picture.
use.
19.
The total population of VBPS is now over 56,000 of whom about
13,300 are refugees. Since screening began in June 1988 about 3,100 VBPS have been screened out as non refugees and only 400 screened in
(latest statistics at Annex C).
South China Holding Centres
20.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27)....
CONFIDENTIAL