布政司署
香港下亞
畢道
本署檔號
*** OUR REF: CR 2/4841/77 IV
* YOur Ref.:
CONFIDENTIAL
See 125
145
12.4
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
21 July, 1978
P Morgan Esq
UN Department F CO
HKK 243/1
M
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
2 5 JUL 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REC RY Action Ten
No las cs
REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG
We are corresponding separately (by telegram) about the UK's offer to take 50 (possibly 61) refugees. When they leave we shall give appropriate publicity to ensure that the U K's generous help is appreciated locally. We are using the offer to reinforce U NHCR efforts through missions here to persuade other countries besides the US to take refugees from Hong Kong. Mean- while you and copy addressees may find it useful to have a round-up on the present position.
Numbers and Accommodation
2.
The past two months have seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of refugees reaching Hong Kong 809 in June and 749 up to 18 July (Annex I gives annual totals since 1975). If the influx continues at the present rate (weather conditions remain generally favourable until late autumn) we could have upwards of 2,000 more by the end of October. The immediate problems faced by the UNHCR in finding accommodation are therefore immense. So far they are just keeping ahead and great credit must go to Chris Carpenter, their Kuala Lumpur-based officer who is now here on an extended visit (our telno. 723 of 13 June). We are, of course, making contingency plans in case it becomes impossible for UNHCR to find additional hotels and hostels. However, we are giving no indication of these plans to Carpenter. UNHCR (and the Americans) continue to accept that we cannot consider providing Government accommodation or opening refugee camps because this would be contrasted unfavourably with our policy of repatriating illegal immigrants from China. There have already been rumblings in the Executive Council on this
CONFIDENTIAL
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