IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS
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Vietnamese Refugees
99.
Before the Geneva Conference in 1979 the flood of Vietnamese
Boat Refugees was a nightmare.
but at a comparatively low level.
...
Since then the problem has continued
There is no evidence of a resumption
of massive organised departures. Nevertheless arrivals in Hong Kong
for this year so far already exceed the total for the whole of last year:
and arrivals in other first asylum countries show a similar, if less
marked, trend. So the fact is that large numbers of people still
remain prepared to face unbelievable risks at sea to escape the
conditions in their homeland.
100.
Faced with this human tragedy we have continued to provide
first asylum to those who reach our shores. This is right. But it
is also right that the international community should continue to
play its part in resettlement. Over 74,000 refugees have been's
resettled from Hong Kong since 1979. We are particularly grateful
I
for the efforts made in resettlement by the United States, Canada
and the United Kingdom and for the work of the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees and of the voluntary agencies. But we still
have over 14,000 and they continue to arrive. If places of first
/asylum
.....