CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 243/30
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1260
OF 21103OZ APRIL 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
сан
175403
MDHIAN 1618
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR NEW
ARRIVALS
1. WE WILL ISSUE ON 24 APRIL A PAPER SEEKING FINANCE COMMITTEE'S
APPROVAL OF FUNDS FOR THE BUILDING OF ADDITIONAL VBP ACCOMMODATION.
THIS WILL INCLUDE THE TEMPORARY USE OF LO WU CAMP AS EMERGENCY
ACCOMMODATION. WE HAVE ALREADY BRIEFED MEMBERS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
OF OUR INTENTION IN SOME DETAIL TODAY (21 APRIL.)
2. WE WILL MAKE A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OF
24 APRIL, AT THE TIME THE PAPER IS ISSUED. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL LAY STRESS ON THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE USE OF LO WU CAMP, AND THE FACT THAT IT IS NECESSITATED BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS
IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS (842 IN MARCH AND 1542 SO FAR IN APRIL): THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF ARRIVALS SO FAR THIS YEAR IS DOUBLE THAT OF THE
SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. LO WU CAMP WILL REVERT TO MILITARY USE AS
SOON AS OTHER ACCOMMODATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
3. UKREP JLG WILL INFORM WANG JIAJI OF THE PROPOSED ANNOUNCEMENT
ON THE MORNING OF 24 APRIL. IF PEKING IS QUESTIONED BY THE
CHINESE, THEY MA WISH TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION ALONG THE LINES
OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENT.
4. MIFT CONTAINS THE TEXT OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENT.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL