CONFIDENTIAL
044615
MDADAN 8348
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3269
OF 060745Z SEPTEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY HANOI, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR INFO PRIORITY PEKING, TOKYO
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
27 AUGUST 2 SEPTEMBER. WEEKLY ROUNDUP.
1. WE INTEND TO PROVIDE A WEEKLY SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS ON VBP IN HONG KONG AND TO INCLUDE (FROM NEXT WEEK) A REVISED PRESENTATION OF STATISTICS. WE HOPE YOU AND OTHER RECIPIENTS WILL FIND THIS USEFUL.
ARRIVALS
2.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ARRIVALS FOR THE WEEK WAS 207 AND THE DAILY AVERAGE 30. WE HOPE THAT THIS IS THE START OF THE LOWER AUTUMN TREND BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO BE CERTAIN. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ARRIVALS SINCE 16 JUNE NOW STANDS AT 9160 AND THE TOTAL HONG KONG CAMP POPULATION IS 25002.
ACCOMMODATION
3. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 796 SPARE PLACES AVAILABLE IN THE DETENTION CENTRES AND A FURTHER 2000 PLACES IN RESERVE ON THE FERRIES. WE ARE PRESSING AHEAD WITH THE WHITEHEAD DEVELOPEMENT BUT IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO DEVELOP AN EMERGENCY HOLDING CENTRE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE
WHEN WHITEHEAD BECOMES AVAILABLE. COVER UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR
WORK IS NOW UNDERWAY ON THIS HOLDING CENTRE WHICH WE HOPE WILL BE READY FOR OCCUPATION BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. IT WILL HAVE A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 3000.
4. WITH THE LOWER NUMBER OF ARRIVALS AND THE PLANS FOR MORE ACCOMMODATION, WE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT OUR POSITION.
OPEN
5. WE ARE PRESSING AHEAD WITH THE PLAN FOR THE NEW, UNHCR RUN, CAMP AT AREA 46A ON THE BASIS OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE UNHCR ON COSTS. WE ENVISAGE AN APPROACH TO FINANCE COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER AND WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME OF THE NEW ACCOMMODATION READY FOR OCCUPATION EARLY IN 1989.
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