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5. IN THE MEANTIME, BECAUSE OF THE FAVOURABLE SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS, HONG KONG IS RECEIVING PROPORTIONATELY MORE SMALL BOAT REFUGEES THAN THE REST OF THE REGION (DETAILED FIGURES IN MY IFT). THIS IS RAISING MAJOR ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS. FOR THIS REASON, IF THE SPECIAL PROCESSING CENTRE NOW BEING DISCUSSED BY ASEAN COMES INTO EXISTENCE, H.M.G IS PRESSING FOR REFUGEES IN HONG KONG TO BE INCLUDED.
6. H.M.G IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT SO FAR UNHCR IN HONG KONG HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCEPT ALL THOSE FROM VIETNAM AS REFUGEES, DUE
TO AN INABILITY TO PROCESS THEM AND TO FIND ACCOMMODATION. AT PRESENT THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING AFTER ABOUT ONE IN FOUR OF THE REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY CONSTRUCTING TEMPORARY
ACCOMMODATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNHCR. H.M.G HOPE THAT UNHCR WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THOSE FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG AND START THE PROCESS OF RESETTLEMENT.
7. THE MAIN REQUIREMENT IS FOR MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES OVERSEAS. ONLY U.S, H.M.G AND CANADA HAVE ON-GOING PROGRAMMES. ON THE BASIS OF CURRENT OFFERS AND ASSESSMENTS IT SEEMS UNLIKELY
THAT MORE THAN ABOUT 800 (800) A MONTH WILL BE RESETTLED IN 1979.
(470) THIS IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE WHEN ARRIVALS ARE AVERAGING 470
A DAY IN MAY.
8. IN ADDITION IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE MINISTER, WHEN REFERRING TO THE EXISTING ALLOCATION OF 1,000 PLACE FOR U.K, COULD SAY THAT THIS NUMBER IS BEING REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF THE RAPIDLY WORSENING SITUATION. WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS. NEVERTHELESS, AS SEEN FROM HERE, THE BEST CHANCE OF GETTING OTHER COUNTRIES, ESPECIALY U.S, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY AND AUSTRALIA TO INCREASE THEIR OFFERS OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES, IS FOR THEM TO SEE THAT H,M.G HAS RECOGNISED THE SERIOUSNESS OF
THONG KONG'S
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