MEETING OF OD(K):
CONFIDENTIAL
WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
S PEAK ING NOTE
(a) Background
Problem in Hong Kong now acute.
33,000 arrivals in 1989 alone. 38,000 likely eventually to be
screened out.
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Total of 56,000 people. Almost
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Serious overcrowding/tension in camps. Problems at Tai A Chau. Growing frustration and anger in Hong Kong. LegCo will resume on 11
October: pressure to abandon first asylum likely to mount
thereafter.
Severe problem of land and funds to house them. Cost to Hong
Kong: £109 million since 1979. Estimated cost in current financial
year £60 million. (Keeping them in detention very expensive.)
(though numbers fluctuate ins people charge their minds) 264 volunteers have returned so far. 700 more in pipeline. 240 of these should go back in next 2 weeks. But clear that voluntary
channel alone cannot solve the problem.
Harch Probbur as crush can front-
Without effective deterrent to departures, risk that we could
face a further influx next year of same proportions as 1989. That
could entail additional costs for building new accommodation of c£ 24 million. Hong Kong likely to look to HMG to foot the bill.
Proposal
Log Go. numbers the timing to w/hold Bank's already.
Abventring
It is against that I ground that I have reached uncleseron
Hence our proposal that we should begin mandatory returns as soon
as possible after SC3. Suggest target date 31 October, ie one week
before TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales' visit to Hong Kong (7-10 November).
TEXACC
CONFIDENTIAL