TNAG-2035-FCO40-2899-Visits-from-countries-other-than-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 86

subsequently "screened in".

The provisions for repatriation were less clear-cut, and less satisfactory: it was agreed in principle that all those determined not to be refugees should return to their country of origin; that in the first instance every effort should be

made to encourage their voluntary return; and that if, after the

passage of reasonable time the voluntary programme was not making sufficient progress, alternatives would be examined. However, the Coordinating Committee recommended the establishment of a Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the CPA, and in particular tasked the Steering Committee to recommend by October 1989 the early examination and adoption of such additional measures as would fall into the category of necessary "alternatives". These

recommendations were specifically endorsed by the Geneva Conference.

4. In the meantime, Hong Kong faced a major crisis in the numbers arriving. The figures jumped from 842 in March to nearly 3,000 in

April, and then to over 9,000 in May and June, on one occasion

topping 1,000 in a single day. Available accommodation filled up

rapidly and new space had to be found. The runway at the military

base at Shek Kong became a tent city, the tents airlifted out by HMG to supplement Hong Kong's own supplies. HMG provided in total £4.5m for emergency accommodation. When, in June, all available space was

taken up, arriving boats were moored on the outlying island of Tai Ah Chau in the Soko group. In no time, the population there built up into the thousands. With no piped fresh water or sanitation, conditions deteriorated rapidly and there was an outbreak of

Cholera. Interfactional fighting among the new arrivals provoked a riot, but swift action by the Hong Kong authorities prevented a

breakdown of law and order. The island was cleared, resulting in

serious overcrowding at other boat people centres, but the threat of

the spread of cholera, and also malaria, was neutralised. Hong Kong

had coped magnificently with an extremely difficult situation.

Arrivals in July and August remained at over 4,000, but began to tail off in September, just as new accommodation began to come on

stream. Though the worst was over, intense overcrowding in the

camps remained, and with it intense political pressure from the

people of Hong Kong to abandon the policy of first asylum and to send back to Vietnam all who were not refugees, whether they wished

to go or not.

RAMAAK (2 )