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BRIEF
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1. Since the fall of Saigon early last year, Hong Kong has provided refuge for a large number of Vietnamese refugees and illegal immigrants. In May 1975, in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Saigon, about 4,000 refugees arrived in Hong Kong by sea. The Hong Kong Government, with some help from the UNHCR, arranged for the resettlement of a very large number in the United States, France and Canada, and smaller numbers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and the UK (about 35-50 eventually arrived in this country). About 30 of this original intake of refugees still remained in Hong Kong one year later. In addition, the Hong Kong authorities have had to absorb some 5,000 Vietnamese who entered the territory illegally in 1975-76. Vietnamese refugees have continued to arrive in Hong Kong in recent months, many by boat. The Hong Kong authorities, with HMG's support, were initially reluctant to allow these refugees to land for fear that other potential Vietnamese refugees would be encouraged to make for Hong Kong, In July the UNHCR appealed to governments to help solve this problem. But in the event, the UNHCR's office agreed to assume full responsibility for the care of the refugees if they were landed temporarily in Hong Kong, and to seek permanent homes for them elsewhere. Given this assurance and indications from certain governments that they might be prepared to accept refugees for permanent settlement and, of course, taking into account the humanitarian aspects, the Hong Kong authorities decided to grant transit rights to the refugees and have continued to do so. This continuing influx of refugees and illegal immigrants has placed a heavy strain on Hong Kong's services and led to some resentment on the part of the permanent population. It is clear that there is in Thailand and in Vietnam itself a large number of potential refugees to Hong Kong, primarily of Vietnamese nationality but including a small group of Hong Kong citizens resident or formerly resident
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