TNAG-1914-FCO40-2718-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-camp-conditions-1989 — Page 6

1989-06-15 12:52 SECURITY BRANCH

DRAFT

852 5 868 5074

P.03

Since the start of the year over 19,000

Vietnamese boat people have arrived in Hong Kong. All

have been granted first asylum. Indeed, no Vietnamese

asylum seeker has ever been turned away from Hong Kong.

This rate of arrivals has stretched the Hong

Kong Government's accommodation capacity to the limit.

Currently more than 300 people are arriving each day

and it is simply impossible to provide them all with

safe and secure accommodation immediately Such accommo-

dation is under construction - Hong Kong is prone to

typhoons and the accommodation must be constructed to

meet local safety standards but it will take time to

complete. At the present rate of arrivals Hong Kong

needs a new camp for Vietnamese boat people every two

weeks. I think you will understand that in such circum-

stances the Hong Kong Government has had to resort to

accommodation options which fall short of the normal

acceptable standards.

PROT