CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY DIST ?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1517
OF 12090OZ MAY 89
MED 243/25
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
(12)
064051
MDHIAN 4446
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: ACCOMMODATION
WE JUDGE THAT OUR CURRENT ACCOMMODATION STOCK WILL BE EXHAUSTED EARLY NEXT WEEK. WE HAVE THERFORE DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE SHAM SHUI PO REFUGEE CAMP INTO A DETENTION CENTRE FOR NEW ARRIVALS. THIS WILL GIVE US ABOUT 5000 PLACES BY 17 MAY.
2. THE REFUGEES IN THE PRESENT SHAM SHUI PO CAMP WILL BE MOVED TO ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION. 2500 WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN ANOTHER PART
OF THE SHAM SHUI PO SITE WHICH WILL BE PREPARED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. A FURTHER 2500 WILL BE MOVED TO THE TUEN MUN CAMP TO OCCUPY ACCOMMODATION AT PRESENT USED BY THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. WE HOPE TO
PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN TENTS.
3. THE UNHCR AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL PROBABLY PROTEST ABOUT
THIS DISRUPTION TO THEIR PROGRAMMES WHICH HAVE NOW BECOME AN UNFORTUNATE NECESSITY. WE SHALL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GIVE THEM ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION. WE HOPE THAE AGENCIES WILL CO-OPERATE : THEIR INITIAL REACTION HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING. BUT UNHCR MAY REFUSE TO TAKE OVER THE TUEN MUN CAMP AS PLANNED. THIS IS A RISK WE HAVE
TO TAKE.
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
95
DISTRIBUTION
101
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
PAGE
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
1
CONFIDENTIAL