GR 510
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 220345Z MAY 79
TO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO.12 OF 22 MAY,
700
HKK ZH3/1
FOR COPY
MAT
DESK OFFICER
FA
INDEX
No
J22.5
INFO: F.C.0, WASHINGTON, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON, INFO SAVING: UKMIS NEW YORK,
662)
1
YOUR TELNO.144 TO FOO, PARA.4: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
IN HONG KONG.
UNTIL RECENTLY REFUGEES TRANSFERRED TO UNHCR CARE WERE
LANDED AS VISITORS'". ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF STAY OF
SUCH PERSONS IS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ANY EMPLOYMENT WHETHER PAID OR UNPAID. HOWEVER, MANY WERE IN FACT WORKING AND THE PRACTICE WAS NOT STOPPED (NOR COULD IT BE
STOPPED FOR MANY WHO WERE LIVING IN BOARDING HOUSES),
2. FACED WITH THIS SITUATION THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO REGULARISE THE STATUS OF THESE REFUGEES SO THAT
THEY ARE PERMITTED TO WORK.
3.
HOWEVER IN DISCUSSION WITH THE LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE
WE HAVE SAID THAT IF THERE IS A DETERIORATION IN THE GENERAL EMPLOYMENT SITUATION THE ARRANGEMENTS MAY HAVE TO BE CHANGED,
ESPECIALLY AS THERE IS MOUNTING PUBLIC PRESSURE IN SOME AREAS
AGAINST REFUGEES BEING ALLOWED TO WORK. BECAUSE OF THE NEED
TO ANTICIPATE SUCH A POSSIBILITY, AND FOR OTHER SECURITY REASONS,
ALL CAMPS HAVE SECURE FENCES. THE LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE
ACCEPTS THAT WHETHER REFUGEES BE ALLOWED TO WORK IS FOR US TO
DECIDE,
.
4. REFUGEES UNDER UNHCR CARE ARE GIVEN FREE LODGING INCLUDING
ELECTRICITY (NOT AVAILABLE TO ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS) AND A FOOD ALLOWANCE. UNTIL IT WAS RECENTLY REDUCED THE LATTER WAS
MORE GENEROUS THAN PAYMENTS UNDER CUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
CONFIDENTIAL