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012601 MDHIAN 9337
INCREASE OF NEW ARRIVALS
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7. MEANWHILE THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN THE PAST FOUR AND MONTHS HAS LED TO A DRASTIC INCREASE IN THE REFUGEE POPULATION. THERE IS OVERCROWDING IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KEPT ABREAST OF THE SITUATION BY BRIEFINGS ON 3 AND 10 MAY.
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SO FAR THIS YEAR A TOTAL OF NEARLY 3,500 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG. DURING THE EQUIVALENT PERIOD LAST YEAR ARRIVALS TOTALLED JUST UNDER 500. THIS IS A SEVEN-FOLD INCREASE IN WHAT IS NORMALLY THE QUIET SEASON, ALBEIT FULED BY RUMOURS OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN HONG KONG'S POLICY TOWARDS BOAT ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM. THERE ARE NOW OVER 12,300 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
AN INCREASE OF AS COMPARED WITH ONLY 7,600 AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR 62 PERCENT. OF THESE NEARLY 10,000 ARE IN THE THREE EXISTING CLOSED CAMPS, WHICH ARE AT BURSTING POINT, AND IN VARIOUS EMERGENCY HOLDING CENTRES. A FOURTH AND PROBABLY A FIFTH CLOSED CAMP WILL BE NECESSARY
EMERGENCY VERY SOON TO ACCOMMODATE THESE INCREASING NUMBERS. FACILITIES HAVE BEEN SET UP IN GREEN ISLAND, ARGYLE STREET, CAPE COLLINSON AND SHAMSHUIPON ARMY CAMP TO ACCOMMODATE THE RECENT ARRIVALS. AT THE PRESENT RATES OF ARRIVAL, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT EVEN THESE ADDITIONAL FACILITES MAY BE FILLED UP IN 3 MONTHS' TIME. A PROJECTION OF ARRIVALS AND TOTAL POPULATION NET OF RESETTLEMENT UP TO THE END OF 1988 IS AT ANNEX B.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
52
ΜΑΙΝ
52
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
MR FIFOOT
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