CONFIDENTIAL
agreed to make up to £5 million available for costs directly related
to mandatory repatriation (ea transport. per capita pavment in kind)
sufficient to return at least 10,000 boat people. of this last sum we have Treasury approval to spend up to £1.3 million in this financial year.
13. The policies proposed in this paper are likely to incur further
costs. We propose that a further sum of up to £5 million should be
made available for financial assistance linked to the reintegration
programme. In addition, in order to help the Hong Kong Government cope with those boat people already in Hong Kong or likely to arrive in the future, we should be ready to contribute significantly to the
costs. The Hong Kong Government advise that they will need about
£5.6 million for necessary improvements to the emergency
accommodation which they began this summer (enhancement of security
and structural reinforcement against typhoons).
14. My officials have been discussing these matters with the
Treasury.
CONCLUSIONS
15. Colleagues are invited to:
(a) agree that we should continue to make preparations for the
repatriation of a first group of non-voluntary returnees soon as possible after SC3; a final decision to proceed will obviously be
looked at in the light of the outcome of that meeting;
(b) agree that I should pursue the funding questions in paragraphs
12 and 13 above with the Chief Secretary.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
2 October 1989
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CONFIDENTIAL
JM
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