3
7.
Meanwhile the outflow into the region from Vietnam has
continued though at a much reduced rate when compared to the sombre
days of 1979. Even so 74,000 arrived in 1981 of whom 8,470 came
here.
2. At the same time, there is a growing conviction here and in
resettlement countries that many of those refugees leaving Vietnam now
are no longer fleeing persecution, as they wore in 1979, but are
seeking a more attractive life elsewhere. Although the Vietnamese
authorities appear to be taking firm measures to prevent people
leaving Vietnam, the fact remains that they are still getting away,
though at a reduced rate. This has led countries of first asylum
and the main resettlement countries to consider other means to deter
people from leaving Vietnam. The term used is humane deterrence.
9. What therefore is the prognosis for Hong Kong? There is a very
real danger that, in the face of greatly reduced resettlement
opportunities, Hong Kong, with its open camps for refugees, will become
the main destination for those who are now seeking to leave Vietnam.
Indeed, some may be misled into believing that Hong Kong itself may
be a likely place of permanent resettlement. To underline that this
is not the case the Bill before Council makes it clear that refugees
cannot gain Chinese resident status. The number of refugees coming
into the region as a whole in the first five months of 1982 as compared
with the same period in 1981 has dropped from 39,500 to 21,200, about
46%. But the number coming to Hong Kong has only dropped from 3,500
to 3,200 S.6% the lowest percentage fall in the region. These
figures indicate that some positive changes must be made to reduce the
"pull" of Hong Kong as a destination.
/para 10.