2
Resettlement in Hong Kong
6.
In addition to the burden of giving temporary asylum to this massive influx of boat refugees, Hong Kong has also made a major contribution by accepting for permanent settlement some 14,000 refugees and displaced persons from Indo-China since April 1975.
Accommodation
7.
In the first half of 1979 the majority of refugees were in Government accommodation. Most are now in camps run by voluntary agencies on behalf of the UNHCR. Three of the original camps have now been closed and the distribution at 1 April 1982 was:-
Government Accommodation
UNHCR Camps:
1,811
8,166
Kai Tak North (HK Red Cross) Argyle IV (YMCA)
7,142
1,024
From
Voluntary agencies provide medical, educational and welfare services. December 1980 until early 1982, most refugees accepted for resettlement in the USA attended a 3-month English language and orientation course run by the US Government in Argyle IV Camp. The last of these courses ended in mid-March, and US cases
instead to Bataan, for similar training there.
Financial Cost to Hong Kong
8.
now go
Since 1979, the Government has spent HK$124 million (US$21m) on establishing and running refugee camps, and feeding and transporting refugees. This figure would be very much higher if a detailed costing were to take account of the diversion of staff and resources from other purposes, the use of valuable land and other hidden costs. The major voluntary agencies in Hong Kong have also spent about HK$39 million on providing services to the refugees which involved over 400 workers in their agencies. Since 1979 the local UNHCR office (which at present enjovs free office space from the Government) has spent HK$101 million (US$19m) on refugees.
Employment
9.
Their average
The majority of the adults are permitted to take up temporary employment with which to support themselves and their families. wage has been slightly lower than the average wage of Hong Kong workers as most refugees tend to enter the lower end of the job spectrum. Allowing refugees to work has meant that the costs to UNHCR of supporting refugees have been lower than elsewhere in the region. Since May 1981 refugees who arrive after rescue at sea are detained pending resettlement overseas within the prescribed period of 90 days. On 1 April there were 263 such cases in HK.
Resettlement Overseas
10.
The rate at which refugees have been resettled abroad has been disappointingly slow. 5,701 were resettled in 1979 prior to the Geneva Conference (daily average of 28). After that the rate picked up: 18,676 (115) were resettled between 21 July and 31 December 1979 and 37,468 (103) in 1980. (Detailed statistics at Appendix B). A sharp drop in departures was registered in 1981 and only 17,818 (48) were resettled. A law is in force to deal with refugees who, without reasonable excuse, fail or refuse to take up resettlement offers. Under it such refugees risk detention or prohibit from taking up employment. On 1 April 1982 there were still 9,977 refugees waiting for
/resettlement