RESTRICTED
Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong
Since the fall of Saigon early in 1975 Hong Kong has provided temporary or permanent homes for a large number of Vietnamese refugees and illegal immigrants. In May 1975 about 4,000 refugees arrived by sea. The Hong Kong Government, with some help from 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 In addition, some 5,000 Vietnamese refugees were estimated to have made their way to Hong Kong illegally during the first year or so of the ending of the war in Vietnam. The continuing influx of refugees and illegal immigrants has placed a heavy strain on Hong Kong's services and has led to some resentment on the part of the permanent population of what is, in any case, a very overcrowded territory.
There was a further problem with Vietnamese refugees in the second half of 1976 when, in July, about 100 refugees arrived off Hong Kong aboard a Burmese-registered ship "MV Ava". 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 the event, the UNHCR's Office agreed to assume full responsibility for 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, principally the United States, that they might be prepared to accept refugees from the "Ava" for permanent settlement, the Hong Kong authorities decided to allow the refugees to land. They have subsequently allowed other smaller groups of Vietnamese refugecs to land in Hong Kong on the understanding that the UNHCR would assume full responsibility for them. The Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR have established procedures whereby it should be possible to cope with the problem of further small groups of Vietnamese refugees who may be picked up at sea and be brought to Hong Kong.