TNAG-1916-FCO40-2720-Accommodation-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 94

135355 MDHIAN 6736

26

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1734

OF 29110OZ MAY 89

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 243/30

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON

TOP COPY Q DIST?

INFO PRIORITY HANOI, PEKING, TOKYO, CANBERRA, OTTAWA INFO PRIORITY PARIS, UKMIS NEW YORK, ASEAN POSTS

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: ACCOMMODATION

FACED WITH THE CONTINUING MASSIVE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE (REPORTED BY SEPARATE TELEGRAM) WE NOW HAVE ONLY 500 PLACES LEFT IN EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION (MAINLY FERRIES) UNTIL STAGE 2(A) (2000 PLACES) OF THE WHITEHEAD PROJECT BECOMES AVAILABLE DURING THE WEEK BEGINNING 5 JUNE. WE HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED TO PREPARE SITES FOR TENTED ACCOMMODATION ON STONECUTTER'S ISLAND AND ON LAND ADJACENT TO THE WHITEHEAD CAMP. THE TENTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. WE ARE AIMING TO HAVE THIS NEW EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION READY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WE ESTIMATE THAT OUR STOCK OF TENTS WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT

ACCOMMODATION FOR UP TO 3000 PEOPLE.

2. WE SHALL DO ALL WE CAN TO PROVIDE DECENT CONDITIONS IN THESE TENTED CAMPS: BUT THE SITES ARE FAR FROM IDEAL. A FURTHER 2000 PLACES IN MORE SOLID ACCOMMODATION WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BY THE END OF JUNE AT WHITEHEAD (STAGE 2B). BUT IF THE RATE OF ARRIVALS CONTINUES AT THE PRESENT RATE OF CLOSE TO 300 PER DAY THERE IS NO/NO REAL PROSPECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE OF BEING ABLE TO DISPENSE WITH TENTED CAMPS. ONE MAJOR DIFFICULTY WITH USING TENTS (OR FERRIES) IS THAT THE INHABITANTS HAVE TO BE MOVED TO SAFER ACCOMMODATION IN THE ENVENT

OF A TYPHOON.

3. BETWEEN 5 JUNE AND THE END OF THE YEAR OUR ACCOMMODATION PLANS WILL PRODUCE A TOTAL (NET) OF 16000 ADDITIONAL PLACES. MOST OF THIS NEW CAPACITY WILL BE AT WHITEHEAD (IE 14000 PLACES) WITH 4000 EXTRA PLAC- ES BECOMING AVAILABLE ONCE THE REFUGEES AT THE TUEN MUN CAMP ARE MOVED TO THE NEW REFUGEE CAMP AT PILLAR POINT. WE THEN INTEND TO TURN TUEN MUN INTO A DETENTION CENTRE. WE WILL HOWEVER LOSE 2000 PLACES WHEN ERSKINE CAMP CLOSES IN JULY. MOST OF THESE 16000 PLACES WILL NOT BECOME AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE IN THE YEAR. OUR PROBLEM IS THEREFORE HOW TO COPE WITH ARRIVALS DURING THE PEAK SUMMER MONTHS. HENCE THE NEED FOR TEMPORARY TENTED CAMPS.

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