ARRAEB (2)
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drawing on the ODA's already heavily pressed Contingency
Reserve; or
putting in a bid for additional funds from the Central Reserve.
If, as I very much hope, Ministers agree that the money will have
to be found somehow, I recommend that the contribution be announced
in principle immediately and channelled through UNHCR in response to
an appeal which UNHCR will be launching shortly. If it is decided
to draw on the ODA's Contingency Reserve such an announcement could
be made immediately. If it is decided to go to the Reserve no
announcement could be made until the finance had been sorted out
with the Treasury. Finance Department (FCO) and the ODA are
content.
Background
3.
Hong Kong faces the virtually certain prospect of a new major influx of boat people in the next few months. The arrival figures
so far this year are bad and are getting worse. There have been
2,442 arrivals this year up to 17 April, of which 842 were in March
and 1,130 so far in April. This compares with a total of 1,098 over
the same period last year
A
well over double. Boat people always
set sail in greatest numbers in the spring and summer months, so the
worst is yet to come. On present trends the number of new arrivals
this year will easily surpass last year's total of 18,000 and could
be as many as 40,000.
4.
Accommodation in Hong Kong for the boat people is now stretched
to the limit. In order to cope with the latest arrivals, the Hong
Kong Government have had to reopen the Erskine Camp (capacity 2000).
When Erskine is full they will have to use ferries.
5.
The Governor has warned that, given the likely scale of arrivals
in the coming months, the authorities will have to take urgent measures to provide the necessary accommodation. This will require
a considerable amount of new funds, for which the authorisation of
the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council will be needed.
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