hmm. I
doubt the peasants know.
The Situation in Hong Kong
4.
CONFIDENTIAL
SINCE OD(K)
LAST MET BOAT PEOPLE HAVE CONTINULO TO ARRIVE IN LARGE NUMBERS: IN JULY ANILD
IN AUGUST. THULE
During the Summer, the total number of boat people in Hong Kong continued to increase.As at 13 September, 32,333 boat people
had arrived in 1989 During August, the average rate wa
was 144 a day, although there have been fewer arrivals in September: The screening of arrivals since 16 June 1988 suggests that only about 13% are genuine refugees qualifying for resettlement. The total number of boat people in the territory now exceeds 55,000, of whom 13,500 are refugees: most of the rest still await screening.
5.
The camps have become severely overcrowded, on average 50% over-capacity. Tensions are mounting. There has been rioting, particularly between boat people from different parts of Vietnam, and two deaths in violent incidents.Hong Kong people have staged
protests against maintaining the policy of first asylum and_against further camps being built. Cholera was confirmed on the outlying
island of Tai A Chau, a first reception area, where over 5,000 people had to be accommodated despite the absence of facilities.
The Hong Kong authorities are building new accommodation as fast as
possible Fortunately, the completion of a camp extension enabled
Tại A Chau to be evacuated while it was cleaned up and rudimentary
facili
built. ~ THERE IS A GROWING SENSE OF ANGER AND FIRUSIA RUN MEAE for WHICH IS REFLEURY IN THE ATTITUDE OF LEGLO.
୮.
The failure of the Internțational Conference on Cambodia in Paris in August means that the prospect of Vietnam regaining
international respectability and qualifying for Western aid has for the time being receded. With hopes of improved economic conditions dashed, Vietnamese people will continue to leave Vietnam by all
available, including clandestine, means.
Repatriation Arrangements
7.
NOT HERE.
264 boat people have now returned to Vietnam under the voluntary programme agreed with the Vietnamese Government after talks in London in October 1988. 121 returned on 17 August. There
are more volunteers in the pipeline and the number has increased to
around 700. But barring a dramatic improvement, the voluntary
CONFIDENTIAL