CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO
4634
OF 201235Z DECEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
243/3 (127)
OUR TELNO 4622: ECVIIS
1.
102450
MDLIAN 3265
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
70
HKD 243/9
WE REPORTED IN PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 2 OF TUR THAT THERE HAD BEEN 634 ECVII ARRIVALS DURING THE FIRST 16 DAYS OF DECEMBER AND THAT IT HAD BECOME NECESSARY TO USE ONE OF THE FERRIES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION. WE HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO USE THE FERRIES AS CONDITIONS ARE FAR FROM SATISFACTORY.
2. THE SITUATION HAS EASED A LITTLE SINCE 16 DECEMBER. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ECVII ARRIVALS FOR THE PAST 5 DAYS. WE HAVE THEREFORE MOVED ABOUT 300 PEOPLE BACK TO THE GREEN ISLAND RECEPTION CENTRE. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING UP TO 100 PEOPLE FROM THE FERRY TO THE ECVII ACCOMMODATION AT KAI TAK. WITH A BIT OF RESHUFFLING THIS SHOULD BE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL LEAVE 60 PEOPLE ON THE FERRY, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE ANY NEW ARRIVALS WOULD INCREASE THIS NUMBER. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE FERRY TO A MORE SHELTERED LOCATION NEXT TO A PIER IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO. FOR THE LONGER TERM WE ARE WORKING ON PLANS TO PROVIDE MORE SUITABLE ON-SHORE ACCOMMODATION FOR ECVIIS.
3. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A CLAIM MADE BY MR LI RUO-HE (DIVISION CHIEF OF HONG KONG OFFICE OF THE NCNA) THAT THE ABRUPT FALL-OFF IN ECVII ARRIVALS REFLECTS EFFORTS BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO PREVENT DEPARTURES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE ABANDONED THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH HONG KONG AND THAT THEY HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES IN GUANGXI. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A SUNSTANTIVE RESPONSE FROM NCNA ON EARLY REPATRIATION, BUT IF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE MANAGED TO END THE OUTFLOW IT WILL COME AS A WELCOME RELIEF FOR WHICH WE ARE GRATEFUL. PEKING MIGHT LIKE
TO MAKE THIS POINT AT A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY.
WILSON
YYYY
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