TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 26

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3. ON 7 DECEMBER THERE WERE 3917 BOAT REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM

IN HONG KONG AWAITING RESETTLEMENT.

4. THE NUMBER OF PLACES ACCOMMODATING THE REFUGEES HAS BEEN

REDUCED TO ABOUT 18. 1171 ARE PRESENTLY AT SHAMSHUIPO (SSP).

A FURTHER 486 SHOULD MOVE THERE NEXT WEEK AND A FURTHER 432

ON OR ABOUT 17 DECEMBER (TOTAL 2089). THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY AT SSP IS ABOUT 2100, WHICH WILL BE REACHED BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

5. THE SSP SITE IS MANAGED BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE FOR

UNHCR WHO HAVE OBTAINED ITS USE ON A SHORT LEASE, RENEWABLE

MONTHLY. THE LAND IS EARMARKED FOR REDEVELOPMENT EARLY IN 1979

AS A PARK AND SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT PART OF THE SITE WILL HAVE TO BE GIVEN UP IN MARCH AND THE REMAINDER IN JUNE: IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO DELAY THIS (BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY).

6. THE 96 FLATS WHICH COMPRISE JUBILEE BUILDINGS ARE A MAJOR NEW

SOURCE OF CHEAPER ACCOMMODATION WHICH SHOULD SOON BECOME .

AVAILABLE. NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BETWEEN UNHCR, THE

US CONSULATE-GENERAL (WHO HAVE AGREED TO UNDERWRITE THE FINANCING

OF THE PROJECT) THE OWNERS AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THERE

ARE COMPLICATIONS IN THAT THE HKG INTENDS TO RESUME THE PROPERTY

AND THE PRESENT OWNERS ARE FURSUING A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE ARMY (WHO WERE THE PREVIOUS TENANTS). IT IS HOPED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS CAN BE COMPLETED WITHIN 2-3 WEEKS. HOWEVER, IT WILL

TAKE SOME TIME AFTER THAT FOR SUFFICIENT REPAIRS TO BE

COMPLETED TO ALLOW REFUGEES TO START MOVING IN.

7. UNTIL NOW MOST REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN OVERCROWDED

AND OVER-PRICED ''HOTEL'' ROOMS, THE PER CAPITA COSTS ARE THE HIGHEST ANYWHERE FOR BOAT REFUGEES, AT SSP AND JUBILEE BUILDINGS

EACH REFUGEE WILL BE PAID A DAILY ALLOWANCE AND WILL BE RESPONSIBL

FOR BUYING HIS OWN FOOD. UNHCR ARE NOT BEING CHARGED A RENTAL

FOR SSP AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT NO RENT (OR, AT WORST, A

MINIMAL ONE) WILL BE CHARGED FOR JUBILEE BUILDINGS.

8. THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF ACCOMMODATING REFUGEES CENTRALLY ARE :

A. COSTS BBOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT ARE REDUCED : B. SIMPLER ADMINISTRATION :

C. EASIER ACCESS BY CONSULATE/UNHCR ́STAFF FOR RESETTLEMENT

INTERVIEWS ETC :

D. EASIER CONTROL OVER MOVEMENTS :

E. WELFARE WORK BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (EG LANGUAGE CLASSES)

CAN BE MORE EASILY DEVELOPED.