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(b) On 11 June, there were 51,400 Vietnamese refugees temporarily
in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement. Over 50,000 have arrived
since January; in the same period only 3,400 have left for
resettlement. Some 7,000 of the total arrivals came on large
vessels (the Huey Fong, Skyluck and Sen On) believed to be
engaged in trafficking in refugees for profit.
3.
Accommodation in Hong Kong
Accommodation for the refugees is desperately short: only
12,000 are in the UNHCR's care. The others are crowded into
prisons, temporary camps and the Government dockyard. New arrivals
now have to remain on the vessels on which they arrive, though
these are often crowded and in poor condition (see photographs
attached).
4.
Public Opinion in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Chinese have little fellow-feeling for the refugees
even though most of them are ethnic Chinese. The Hong Kong Govern-
ment are coming under increasing pressure from the public to turn
boats away and, if necessary, to tow them back to sea. There is a
feeling of frustration at Hong Kong's impotence to deal with the
problem, and a strong belief that Britain should be doing more to
help.
Measures Taken to Deal with the Problem
5.
(a) In Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Government have introduced tough new legis-
lation to deter refugee traffickers: the trial of the
Captain and others connected with the Huey Fong has just
started. Hong Kong is also cooperating with other govern-
ments in the region in obtaining and sharing advance
/intelligence
CONFIDENTIAL