TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 243

RESTRICHED

AUSTRALIA (JUNE 78-

JUNE 79) 11,500

204

1.8%

4. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON REFUGEES JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1979: IN MILLION DOLLARS H.K. (U.S. DOLLARS IN BRACKETTS):

COMMITTED TO DATE

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE

39 (7.6) 15 (2.9)

ACCOMMODATION

PROJECTED TOTAL TO DEC

121 (24)

102

(20)

5. AT PRESENT THERE ARE 50,000 REFUGEES IN GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION

AND 15,000 IN 3 UNHCR CAMPS. UNHCR PLAN TO. INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THEIR PRESENT CAMPS TO 28,000 BY THE END OF OCTOBER AND TO TAKE

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KAI TAK NORTH CAMP (15,000) ON 1 AUGUST. THERE ARE DETAILED PLANS FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION TO INCREASE TO 67,000 BY THE END OF OCTOBER (EXCLUDING KAI TAK NORTH) WITH CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR A FURTHER 54,000. WE HOPE THERE WILL BE A

MARKED INCREASE IN ACCEPTANCE BY UNHCR OF CAMPS OFFERED BY THE

GOVERNMENT AND OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS

OF ALL REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.

UNHCR STAFF AND PROCESSING

6. UNHCR NOW HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OF 5 (4 GENEVA-BASED ONE OF WHOM ARRIVED ON 12 JULY) AND 38 INVERVIEWERS AND ASSISTANTS.

AS A RESULT OF GOVERNMENT PUSHING AND ASSISTANCE THE LATTER WILL BE INCREASED SHORTLY TO 70 AND UNHCR HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION OF ALL REFUGEES IN HONG KONG BY 10 AUGUST. AT 12 JULY 14,333 REFUGEES. HERE HAD THEIR PARTICULARS REGISTERED BY UNHCR FOR PRESENTATION TO THIRD COUNTRIES.

EMPLOYMENT

7. 7,200 REFUGEES HAD JOBS AT 11 JULY. THE AVERAGE WAGE WAS H.K. DOLLARS 25.00 PER DAY.

LEGAL POWERS TO DEAL WITH TRAFFICKING IN REFUGEES

8. (A) UP TO 4 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND FORFEITURE OF ANY VESSELS

BRINGING EXCESS PASSENGERS TO HONG KONG.

2

RESTRICTED

./(8) UP TO

}