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He will discuss visit 1⁄2 44K in Daughon or by
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO VIETNAM, MR M E PIKE, ON 22 OCTOBER
The Situation in Vietnam
1.
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Mr Tonkin's teleletter of 9 September gives the most recent summary of affairs in Vietnam. Despite numerous representations about the closed camp policy and the Vietnamese authorities, the extent of public knowledge of it is limited. In August only 1 in 5 of arrivals in Hong Kong knew anything at all about this policy: latest indications, however, (quoted in EXCO memo of 5 October) are that perhaps half have some knowledge of the stricter measures.
2.
Despite tighter controls on departure from Vietnam, knowledge of a tougher reception elsewhere, and a slight improvement in the food situation, refugees are still leaving Vietnam, but there has been a 45% drop in departures for the first seven months of 1982 as compared to 1981.
Hong Kong
3.
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However, 50% of boat refugees from Vietnam are now going to Hong Kong the largest ever proportion. The arrival rate during the summer months was higher than last year's figures, although September has seen the usual seasonal drop. It is too early to fully assess the effect of closed camp policy, but it seems not to have yet had any significant effect on the rate of arrivals.
4.
In stark contrast, Hong Kong currently has only 13% of the regional off-take. 443 left this September, compared with 1,673 in September 1981. The UNHCR target off-take has been 1,000 per month on average during 1982; but this has dropped to 400 per month for the last three months, of whom the USA has taken three-fifths.
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The total number of refugees in Hong Kong is now 13,200; similar to last month's figure for September. There are over 3,000 refugees in the closed camps whose capacity is 5,500.
6.
I attach a recent unconfirmed account of UNHCR officials apparently actively discouraging a refugee from returning to Vietnam after arriving in Hong Kong. As Hong Kong point out, such actions would undermine the effectiveness of the new policy, even if it survives the current discussion over human rights breaches.
CODE 18-77
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/Mr Pike's