BACKGROUND NOTE
Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong
1. 73,692 Vietnamese boat refugees were allowed to land
temporarily in Hong Kong in 1979 and a further 1,128 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 13,548 up to 6 May this
year.
2. The British Government undertook last July to accept
10,000 of these refugees for resettlement in the United
Kingdom (in addition to 1,500 Vietnamese refugees under a
previous quota). Last year 3,897 were resettled in this
country and just over 2,000 have been resettled here this
year up to 6 May. It is hoped that the full commitment
will be completed by the end of the year.