TNAG-0884-FCO40-1094-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 22

G.S. 81

CONFIDENTIAL 機密。

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At the end of March 1979, there were about 16,000 refugees in Hong Kong accommodated as follows

2.

(a) Kai Tak Detention Centre

(b) Prison institutions

(c) Government Dockyard

4,700

2,900

500 approximately

2,642

3.

(d) on board the Skyluck

(e) U.N.H.C.R. camps or

boarding houses

'D.

5,300 approximately

In the first three months of 1979 about 13, 000 refugees have arrived in Hong Kong. During the same period only about 2,000 have departed for resettlement in other countries. It remains to be seen whether the rate of influx will slow down following the Vietnamese Government's reported readiness to modify its emigration policy. However, it is not considered likely that the rate of resettlement will be accelerated. The total number of refugees who will have to be accommodated in Hong Kong at any one time will therefore be more than the 15, 000 assumed in Finance Committee agenda item C. 52 discussed on 14th March.

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4. Following discussion on 13th and 27th March 1979, the Governor-in-Council ordered that work should commence as soon as possible on converting part of the area at the former RAF Kai Tak into a camp to hold up to 10,000 refugees. (Executive Council Memorandum XCC(79)26). The new camp at Kai Tak, which will be known as Kai Tak East, will be built and 'run by the U.N.H.C.R. on land which will be provided free by the Government. The Government will also provide services (that is roads, drainage and utilities) to the site for which the Public Works Sub-Committee will shortly be invited to recommend the inclusion of a Category A item in the Public Works. Programme.

Proposal

Assumptions

5.

:

For the purposes of this paper it is assumed that refugees will continue to arrive at an average rate of 80 per day, and that they will depart for resettlement at an average of 25 per day. This will result in a refugee population of about 31, 000 by the end of 1979. It is assumed that at least 21, 000 of these will be accommodated at U.N.H.C.R. expense in the camps at Sham Shui Po

/(capacity

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