3
resettlement overseas. (This figure takes into account births and deaths amongst the refugee population while waiting for resettlement offers: 3,439 births and 465 deaths reported since 1 January 1979).
Regional Arrivals and Departures
11.
A
Hong Kong bore a particularly heavy burden in 1979 and 1980 since more boat refugees 75,500 - arrived between January 1979 and December 1980 than anywhere else in the region. The number resettled in 1979 and 1980 was only 76% of the combined total of those here at 1 January 1979 and 1979 - 1980 arrivals. The comparable resettlement rate for most other places of first asylum was much higher (Indonesia 96%, Malaysia 91%), and the regional average (89%) was also above Hong Kong's. This, coupled with low rates of resettlement in 1981 and 1982, meant that at end of March 1982 4,799 (48%) refugees in Hong Kong had already spent more than 24 months here and 5,188 (52%) more than 18 months.
Regional Arrivals and Resettlement of
A Refugee
boat refugees from Vietnam
C
Refugee Population
(as % of total)
B
Population
Arrivals
at 1 Jan 82 Jan Feb
Resettlement Jan Feb 82 (as % of A + B)
1 Mar 82
Hong Kong
12,960
708
3,083 (22.6)
10,636 (25.6)
Malaysai
9,845
3,215
3,079 (23.6)
10,003 (24.1)
Philippines
6,628
569
953 (13.2)
6,281 (15.1)
Indonesia
6,191
607
910 (13.4)
5,916 (14.2)
Thailand
4,991
1,760
1,272 (18.8)
5,630 (13.5)
Japan
1,798
13
90 (5.0)
1,733 (4.2)
Macau
1,196
Singapore
TOTAL
539
102
44,
148
6.974
50
437 (68.2)
9,874 (19.3)
1,151 (2.8)
204 (0.5)
41,554 (100)
The Future
12.
Experience shows that it is difficult to predict rates of resettlement much more than 3 months in advance. There are only three major ongoing resettlement programmes: US, Canada and Australia. The US offtake will be about 1,000 for April, 500 for May, 400 each for June and July, and 350 for August. Canada has allotted a quota of 1,000 to Hong Kong and Macau for the year 1982 with an average offtake of 80 for April and May and 70 from June onwards. The Australian off take remains at approximately 25 a month. The UK quota will be completed by April with the departure of the remaining 16 to UK. In addition, there are other programmes limited to accepting refugees for family reunion or to refugees rescued at sea by vessels flying the flags of, or owned by, traditional maritime countries. New arrivals in the first quarter of this year have increased by 21% over the same period of last year. On the assumption that new arrivals will probably continue to increase in the next three months, it is estimated that there will be about 11,000 refugees awaiting resettlement in Hong Kong at end of June 1982.
Security Branch,
Government Secretariat
3 April 1982