CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1261
OF 21103OZ APRIL 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
нко
HKD 243/20
TC
33
175416
MDHIAN 1621
MIPT : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION
FOR NEW ARRIVALS
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
BEGINS
IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ABOUT ACCOMMODATION FOR NEW VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVALS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY
(24 APRIL) QUOTE THE USE OF THE ERSKINE DETENTION CENTRE WILL BE EXTENDED FROM MID-MAY TO THE END OF JULY OR EARLY AUGUST. THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL NOT IN ANY WAY
DELAY THE UNIVERSITY'S BUILDING PROJECT.
LO WU CAMP WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS' TIME,
TO BE USED IF NECESSARY IN PLACE OF ERSKINE AS A TEMPORARY HOLDING
CENTRE FOR NEW ARRIVALS. THE CAMP CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 1,800
2.
PEOPLE.
3.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ARMY HAVE ARRANGED THAT LO WU CAMP WILL
BE USED TEMPORARILY PENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT
ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR NEW ARRIVALS. THE ARMY WILL MEANWHILE
MAKE USE OF THE NEARBY DILLS CORNER CAMP TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATIONS
ON THE BORDER.
4.
FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 26) TO APPROVE THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR LO WU CAMP AND FOR A PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE TO HOUSE ANOTHER 10,000 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
5. MEANWHILE FERRIES MAY NEED TO BE USED AS EMERGENCY HOLDING
CENTRES. UNQUOTE.
ENDS