CONFIDENTIAL
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MDLIAN 6106
(C) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO CLOSE DOWN THE SAN YICK CAMP AND TO MOVE THE REMAINING POPULATION TO A NEW OPEN CAMP TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT PILLAR POINT. IN THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNHCR THE HKG HAS UNDERTAKEN TO USE ITS BEST ENDEAVOURS TO MOVE ALL OR MOST OF THE SAN YICK POPULATION TO THIS NEW ACCOMMODATION
BY THE END OF 1988.
(D) DELAYS IN FINALISING THE PLANS FOR THE NEW OPEN CAMP HAVE MEANT THAT IT WILL NOT NOW BE POSSIBLE TO MEET THIS DEADLINE. WE EXPECT TO HAVE SUFFICIENT ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE AT PILLAR POINT FOR THE SAN YICK POPULATION DURING MARCH. THIS IS A CONSIDERABLE ACHIEVEMENT IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MOVE OF 1,000 PEOPLE TO THE TEMPORARY CAMP AT PILLAR POINT WHICH TOOK PLACE IN OCTOBER, THE HKG CAN REASONABLY CLAIM TO HAVE HONOURED THE SPIRIT OF THE UNDERSTANDING ON THIS POINT.
(E) UNHCR HAVE YET TO CONFIRM THEIR AGREEMENT TO THE PLANS TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW CAMP ON THE PILLAR POINT SITE. IF THE PRESENT TIGHT TIMETABLE IS TO BE MET AND FURTHER SLIPPAGE AVOIDED AN EARLY INDICATION OF UNHCR'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLANS IS ESSENTIAL.
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