TNAG-1916-FCO40-2720-Accommodation-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 104

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 2+3/30.

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076706

MDHIAN 4949

100

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO

1577

OF 170645Z MAY 89

16

YOUR TELNO 1033: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: TENTS

WE UNDERSTAND ODA'S DIFFICULTY OVER FINANCE. WE CAN THEREFORE TRY TO

ABSORB THE COST OF THE TENTS WITHIN THE BUDGET APPROVED FOR STAGES 3 AND 4 OF WHITEHEAD. THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT. IT MAY MEAN MAKING A CORRESPONDING SAVING ON CONSTRUCTION COSTS, OR USING UP THE CONTINGENCY SUM WHICH THE APPROVED PROVISION FOR EACH PUBLIC WORKS

PROJECT CONTAINS.

2. ON YOUR POINT (1) THEREFORE THE POSITION IS THAT WE PROBABLY WILL

BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE THE REQUIRED FUNDS OUT OF THE WHITEHEAD VOTE WITHOUT RECORSE TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE WOULD HOWEVER SEE POLITICAL VALUE HERE IN HMG/HKG AGREEING TO SHARE THE COSTS OF THESE TENTS

ON A 50/50 BASIS. THIS WOULD BE A FURTHER DEMONSTRATION OF HMG'S

CONCERN TO DO WHAT IT CAN TO HELP HONG KONG IN THE PRESENT DIFFICULT SITUATION. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THIS OPTION TO MINISTERS.

3. ON YOUR POINT (II) THE POSITION IS THAT THE SHAMSHUIPO PROJECT

HAS GONE WELL AND MOST OF THE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE READY FOR USE BY 1 MAY. WE SHALL NEED TO MAKE IMMEDIATE USE OF SOME OF THE TENTS AT WHITEHEAD AND AT THE TUEN MUN REFUGEE CAMP FOR THE SERVICES DISPLACED FROM THE PRESENT HUTS THERE. DESPITE A GOOD DEAL OF GRUMBLING, SOME OF OF IT PUBLIC, WE HAVE MANAGED TO RETAIN THE CO-OPERATION OF THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND SHALL NEED ACCOMMODATION

FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS AND A CHILD CARE CENTRE. THE REST OF THE TENTS

WILL BE HELD IN RESERVE AND WILL NEED TO BE USED TO HOUSE NEW

ARRIVALS DURING JUNE IF AS WE ASSUME THE PRESENT RATE OF ARRIVALS

CONTINUES OR INCREASES.

WILSON

YYYY

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