CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1872
OF 061235Z JUNE 89
CONFIDENTIAL
41
175654
HKB 243/30
MDHIAN 8548
:
PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR
(20) 245/4
YOUR TELNO 1200: OUR TELNOS 1772 AND 1830: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
LEI YUE MUN
297
(34)
1. THE ALLOCATION OF PDS FOUR MILLION IS VERY WELCOME NEWS. I AM
MOST GRATEFUL AND REALISE THE EFFORT THAT MUST HAVE GONE INTO
ACHIEVING IT.
2. WE WILL ENSURE THAT THIS GENEROUS OFFER OF ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN
AS MUCH PUBLICITY AS WE CAN. I ASSUME THAT THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN
ALLOCATED FOR EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION IN GENERAL RATHER THAN BEING
SPECIFIC TO THE LEI YUE MUN PROJECT. GRATEFUL FOR URGENT
CONFIRMATION SO THAT WE CAN LAUNCH THE PUBLICITY.
3. IN SECOND TUR WE EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE CONSIDERING 3
EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS WHICH WERE LISTED IN PRIORITY ORDER
IN PARAGRAPH 2. AFTER CONSULTING HQBF WE HAVE DECIDED TO PRESS
AHEAD WITH A COMBINATION OF OPTIONS 1 AND 2 I.E. A TENTED CAMP AT SEK KONG (THIRD TUR). IF THE INFLUX CONTINUES ON THE PRESENT SCALE
WE WILL HAVE TO PREPARE A SECOND SITE FOR A TENTED CAMP. WE ARE
LOOKING FOR SUITABLE SITES AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO REACH A
DECISION THIS WEEK.
4.
WE HAVE DECIDED AGAINST THE LEI YUE MUN OPTION FOR THE TIME
BEING. I JUDGE IT UNWISE IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE IN HONG KONG TO
PRESS AHEAD WITH A PLAN TO CONVER SUCH A MAJOR COMMUNITY ASSEST FOR USE AS A VBP DETENTION CENTRE. THERE WOULD BE WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION TO SUCH A MOVE. WE ARE NOT/NOT THEREFOR TAKING THIS OPTION ANY FURTHER, AT LEAST FOR THE PRESENT.
WILSON
YYYY
1
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