HKK 243/1
POTLY NO. 31
16
(6)
GRS 230
RESTRICTED
DESKBY 2209002
FM HONG KONG 2208457 FEB 80
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 277 OF 22 FEBRUARY
RESTRICTED
No
FRJMRY
125
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
15
YOUR TELNO 1651 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
1. FROM MAY 1975 TO 21 FEBRUARY 1980, HONG KONG HAS ACCEPTED 14,472 INDOCHINESE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS FOR SETTLEMENT.
THE BREAKDOWN IS :-
OVERSTAYERS/ILLEGALS FROM VIETNAM
5,744
OVERSTAYERS/ILLEGALS FROM CAMBODIA
2,134
OVERSTAYERS/ILLEGALS FROM LAOS
1,277
CHARTERED FLIGHTS FROM HO CHI MINH CITY ARRANGED BY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
4,522
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS FROM HO CHI MINH CITY
478
BOAT REFUGEES
317
OF THE 317 BOAT REFUGEES ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT IN HONG KONG, 190 CAME DIRECTLY TO HENG KONG AND 127 WERE ACCEPTED FROM PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
2. SINCE APRIL 1979 THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS INCURRED DIRECT EXPENDITURE OF APPROXIMATELY HONG KONG DOLLARS 70 MILLION ON ESTABLISHING AND RUNNING REFUGEE CAMPS, AND FEEDING AND TRANSPORTING REFUGEES. THE ACTUAL COST WOULD BE VERY MUCH HIGHER IF A DETAILED COSTING WERE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE DIVERSION OF STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES TO COPE WITH THE REFUGEE PROBLEM, THE USE OF VALUABLE LAND AND OTHER HIDDEN COSTS. ACCURATE COSTS
BEFORE APRIL 1979 ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
#
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD SEAD
UND
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
RESTRICTED