TNAG-1843-FCO40-2618-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 149

Costs

Kai Tak Departure Centre

101

Other institutions

56

Detention centres

Hei Ling Chau

Chi Ma Wan

Whitehead

Argyle

Erskine

Cape Collinson

Other institutions

15,037

2,887

3,210

1,897

80

1,926

674

255

10,929

12.

Between January 1979 and 31 March 1989, it is estimated that the Hong Kong Government will have spent on Vietnamese boat people approximately $400m (30m pounds) in capital expenditure and $1,193m (90m pounds) in recurrent expenditure, of which $146m (11m pounds) will have been reimbursed by the UNHCR. Since the introduction of the closed centre policy in 1982, the Hong Kong Government has been responsible for all capital expenditure relating to the construction of refugee camps. It has also paid the recurrent costs of the administration of these camps, including the salaries of the staff employed to run them. The Government has been reimbursed by the UNHCR for other expenses such as food, water, medical supplies, relief items and utilities. However, under a Statement of Understanding concluded between the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR in September 1988, the UNHCR has also accepted full responsibility for food, social and other services in all detention centres. It will also, later this year, take on responsibility for the management of all former closed refugee camps. It is estimated that on full implementation this Understanding will reduce the costs to the Hong Kong Government by $140m (10.5m pounds) a year.