1
BACKGROUND NOTE
CONFIDENTIAL
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1. 73,692 Vietnamese boat refugees were allowed to land temporarily
in Hong Kong in 1979 and a further 10,752 have arrived so far this
year. 24,377 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong were resettled by
UNHCR in countries of permanent settlement in 1979 and a further
29,679 up to the end of September this year.
2.
The British Government undertook in July 1979 to accept 10,000
of these refugees for resettlement in the United Kingdom (in addition
to 1,500 under a previous quota). Last year 3,897 were resettled in
this country and 4,947 have been resettled here this year up to the
end of last month. It is hoped that the full commitment will be met
by March 1981.
3. The Governor of Hong Kong is now proposing a fresh United Kingdom
quota of 5,000, without a specific time limit for resettlement, to
include refugees rescued at sea by British ships. He will shortly be
raising this question with the Secretary of State.
4.
The above figures include Vietnamese who have entered Hong Kong
from China, although, strictly speaking, we do not regard them as
refugees.
Hong Kong and General Department
30 October 1980
CONFIDENTIAL