TNAG-1622-FCO40-2236-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 88

GRS 271

UNCLASSIFIED

FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE ODA

TELNO U/N

OF 290122Z MAY 87

нкв 02011

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, FCO

FOR DISASTER AND REFUGEE UNIT

0 1 JUN1257

YOUR TELNO MODEV 64: CHINA: FOREST FIRES

7

92

1. AIRCRAFT AND SUPPLIES ARRIVED SAFELY IN HARBIN AT APPROXIMATELY

1330 LOCAL TIME ON 27 MAY. PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 28 MAY CARRIED A REPORT FROM HARBIN ANNOUNCING THE DELIVERY OF THE RELIEF GOODS BY THE UK GOVERNMNET, STATING THEIR APPROXIMATE QUANTITY AND THAT THEY WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY SENT ON TO THE FIRE STRICKEN AREA. MANY THANKS TO ALL

CONCERNED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY.

2. ALTHOUGH PAPERS ON 28 MAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE FIRE HAD LARGELY BEEN EXTINGUISHED, THAT LATEST NEWS IS THAT 9 UNDERGROUND FIRES HAVE FLARED UP TO THE SURFACE. FOUR HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH, BUT FIVE ARE STILL BLAZING, THOUGH UNDER CONTROL. STRONG WINDS YESTERDAY WILL HAVE WORSENED THE SITUATION.

3. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES, THE FIRE HAS AFFECTED ONE MILLION HECTARES OF LAND, OF WHICH 650,000 IS FOREST.

BUILDINGS WITH A FLOOR SPACE OF 640,000 SQUARE METRES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. 10,807 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED LEAVING 56,092

PEOPLE HOMELESS. THE EXACT NUMBER OF DEATHS SO FAR ESTABLISHED IS 191, WITH 221 SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. THE DEATH TOLL IS LIKELY TO PROVE TO BE MUCH HIGHER ONCE A LIST OF MISSING PERSONS IS ESTABLISHED. THE VICE MINISTER OF FORESTRY, LIU GUANGÝUN, SAID THAT THE AFFECTED

FORESTRY ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 2 PER CENT OF CHINA'S TIMBER

PRODUCTION, CHINA THEREFORE HAD NO PLANS AT PRESENT TO INCREASE TIMBER IMPORTS. THE ESTIMATED DIRECT ECONOMIC LOSSES, EXCLUDING STANDING TIMBER DESTROYED AND THE COST OF FIGHTING THE BLAZE, AT

BETWEEN 400 AND 500 MILLION YUAN.

EVANS

PEHPAN 1021

L'IMITED

FED

HKD

SOV D

NEWS D

INFO D

RES D

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE MR MCLAREN

COPIES TO:

DISASTER UNIT ODA