1
File
5
C Birt Esq
Home Office
CONFIDENTIAL
Immigration & Nationality Department
Lunar House
Wellesley Road
CROYDON
HKK 2+3/1
SEWAY
No LAS
HKK 243/1
20 January 1978
See 443
1.
I mentioned on the telephone recently that David Wilson, the Political Adviser in Hong Kong, had sent us an up-to-date report on the position of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. You very kindly provided some factual information on the UK position and this has been incorporated in our reply.
2. At present there are over 500 Vietnamese "boat people" in Hong Kong and some 200 of these have no apparent prospect of being accepted by other countries. Although UNHCR has given, in most cases at least, guarantees to maintain and resettle the refugees, there is no time limit to such guarantees. In addition to these "boat people" there are estimated to be a further 10,000 plus who came from Indo-China to Hong Kong before the fall, legally or illegally, or who have overstayed.
3. This is clearly a very heavy burden on Hong Kong, which is already over-crowded. David Wilson argues, rightly in our view, that it is too early to be sure that the mass exodus of refugees is over. There are some indications that this may be the case but the explanation could simply lie in the fact that the prevailing winds are more suited to the refugees' purpose in the summer and autumn than at present. He asks therefore whether it would be possible for the UK, as a special act outside a quota arrangement, to accept say 50 refugees.
4. None of the 200 who are expected to be left in Hong Kong after other countries, particularly the US, have taken their allotments, have so far expressed any interost in coming to the UK but they may well do so when faced with an indefinite stay. It would in any case be extremely useful in furthering relations between the UK and Hong Kong if it could be seen that the UK is helping the Colony with this problem. There is already some confusion in the minds of the public in Hong Kong as to why Vietnamese refugees are accepted so freely Such an offer yet illegal immigrants from China are repatriated. could also demonstrate to the Americans that they are not being left to share the burden alone. This, in turn, could provide the Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
/Government