XN000022-1988-05-06 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1988

EMERGENCY STEPS TAKEN TO HOUSE BOAT PEOPLE

THE LARGE

EMERGENCY MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO ACCOMMODATE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG IN RECENT WEEKS.

NEARLY 3,000 BOAT PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. THIS IS SIX TIMES THE NUMBER WHICH ARRIVED IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

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"THIS IS IMPOSING A CONSIDERABLE STRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES FOR ACCOMMODATING THESE PEOPLE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY

(FRIDAY).

"WE HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO EXPAND OR OPEN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY HOLDING CENTRES AT GREEN ISLAND, ARGYLE STREET AND CAPE COLLINSON, AND WE ARE URGENTLY SEEKING FURTHER SUCH FACILITIES," HE ADDED.

UP ΤΟ NATIONS

AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN SET CO-ORDINATE THE RESPONSE TO THE RECENT INFLUX. THE UNITED HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) IS REPRESENTED ON THE WORKING GROUP.

CIVIL AID SERVICES STAFF HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO MANAGE THE INITIAL RECEPTION AND HOLDING CENTRE ON GREEN ISLAND AND THE TEMPORARY HOLDING CENTRE AT ARGYLE STREET.

THE CORRECTIONAL

COLLINSON CENTRE.

SERVICES

DEPARTMENT

WILL

MANAGE THE CAPE

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS BEEN KEPT FULLY

INFORMED OF THE

SITUATION.

"RESETTLEMENT DID NOT KEEP PACE WITH ARRIVALS LAST YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS RESETTLED, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN HONG KONG HAS CONTINUED TO GROW BECAUSE OF THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS."

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