TNAG-1971-FCO40-2804-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 29

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1212

OF 17110OZ APRIL 89

√58

156740

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY MDHIAN 0940

DIST 7

MED 24319

enter

FOR HKD

(51)

YRTELNO 845: REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE

18/4

1. THE FOLLOWING BRIEF SUMMARY MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN PREPARATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE MEETING ON 20 APRIL.

ARRIVALS

2. THE ARRIVAL RATE SO FAR THIS YEAR IS RUNNING AT 122 PER CENT ABOVE

LAST YEAR. A TOTAL OF 2442 VBP HAVE ARRIVED THIS YEAR UP TO 17 APRIL.

THIS COMPARES WITH 1098 FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

ACCOMMODATION

3. OUR ACCOMMODATION IS NOW STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. IN VIEW OF THE

LARGE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS IN MARCH (842) AND APRIL (1130 AS AT

17 APRIL), WE HAVE HAD TO REOPEN THE RECENTLY CLOSED ERSKINE CAMP, AS

A TEMPORARY MEASURE, TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW ARRIVALS. WHEN ERSKINE IS FULL, WE SHALL HAVE TO USE FERRIES.

FINANCE

4. WE SHALL NOW NEED TO APPROACH FINANCE COMMITTEE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY FOR FUNDS TO PROVIDE MORE ACCOMMODATION AT WHITEHEAD IN PREPARATION FOR THE SUMMER INFLUX. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL BE GRUDGING, IF NOT HOSTILE, TO AN APPROACH FOR FUNDS FOR MORE VBP ACCOMMODATION. IF A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS REFUSE TO APPROVE SUCH A REQUEST, WE SHOULD FACE A SERIOUS PRACTICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM. THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS TO LEGCO OPPOSITION TO THE PROVISION OF FURTHER FUNDS: CRITICISM OF THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY AND DEMANDS THAT THE UK SHOULD SHARE THE BURDEN. WITHOUT A UK COMMITMENT TO HELP ON FUNDING, WE MUST EXPECT CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY IN COUNTERING THE FIRST POINT AND A GREAT DEAL OF CRITICISM OF HMG ON THE SECOND POINT.

VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION

5. VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION ALONE WILL NOT/NOT GENERATE THE NECESSARY MOMENTUM TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE SCREENED OUT NON-REFUGEES. WE HAVE ALMOST REACHED THE END OF THE SUPPLY OF VOLUNTEERS. THERE IS

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CONFIDENTIAL