TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 182

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RECEIVED IN HEGISTRY

20 SEP 1983

DESK ORE DOES

INGUN

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

JCONE

CONFIDENTI

DD 200100Z HONG KONG

GRS 260

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 200100Z

FM FCO 191600Z SEPT 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 926 OF 19 SEPTEMBER

FOR LEEKS, SECURITY BRANCH

1.

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My wall

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JOHN POWLEY MP HAS WRITTEN TO MR LUCE ENCLOSING A LETTER

FROM REV J S DRUMMOND, MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE OF NORWICH COUNCIL

OF CHURCHES ABOUT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG. DRUMMOND

SAYS HE VISITED JUBILEE CAMP IN APRIL/MAY 1983 AND THAT QUOTE

CONDITIONS WERE APPALLING. THERE WERE 3000 PEOPLE IN THE

BUILDINGS, WHICH I EXPECT WERE BUILT FOR SOMETHING LIKE 40 FAMILIES.

THE SPACE ALLOCATED TO EACH FAMILY WAS A SHELF ABOUT THE SIZE OF

A DOUBLE BED, AND THESE WERE IN TIERS UNQUOTE. DRUMMOND SAYS

THAT QUOTE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO SAVE THESE POOR PEOPLE

FROM WHAT IS VIRTUAL IMPRISONMENT UNQUOTE.

2.

WE PROPOSE TO SUGGEST REPLY ON FOLLOWING LINES:

3.

QUOTE ALTHOUGH THE NUMBERS FLEEING BY BOAT FROM VIETNAME

HAVE CONTINUED TO FALL THIS YEAR THERE HAS BEEN AN EVEN

SHARPER FALL IN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESETTLEMENT OF THE

REFUGEES IN THE WEST, AND AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG HAVE HAD

TO COPE WITH A RISE IN THEIR REFUGEE POPULATION TO OVER 13,600 IN WHAT IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED

AREAS OF THE WORLD.

IN THESE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY PROVIDE IN CONJUNCTION

WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS CARITAS, TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR THE REFUGEES, INCLUDING BASIC HEALTH CARE

AND WELFARE SERVICES. THE CAMPS ARE RUN WITH THE FULL

COOPERATION OF THE UNHCR, WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXPENSES

UNQUOTE.

GRATEFUL COMMENTS OR ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS DESKBY

201200Z.

HOWE

DISTRIBUTION

MINIMAL

HKD

SEAD

CONFIDENTIAL

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