A/AC.96/620 page 366
(144).
UNHER: Report on UNHCR assistance activities
1982-3 + propured voluntary funds
programmes & budget for 1984,
(A/AC _96|620, 1 Aug 83),
11
HONG KONG
Introduction
pa 243/1.
822. By the end of 1982, the number of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong stoca at 12,624, the highest number of "boat people" in the region, even though this number was slightly lower than one year earlier when it stood at 13,542. New arrivals recorded in 1982 totalled 7,937 against 9,193 departures for resettlement in third countries. A small number (52) were accepted for permanent settlement in Hong Kong itself. There have been 2,158 new arrival s and 2,093 departures in the first six months of 1983, bringing the Vietnamese refugee population to 12,881 at the end of June 1983.
823. As in the past, the Hong Kong authorities have continued to grant temporary asylum to all Vietnamese refugees arriving directly by boat, penaing their resettlement in third countries. In the first months of 1982, most of these refugees were accommodated in kaitak centre, financed by UNHCR and administered by the Hong Kong branch of the British ked Cross Society. Others were accommodated in Government-run refugee centres which served as reception/ departure centres and a transit centre for ship rescue cases. In early May 1982, serious disturbances occurred in Kaitak centre, due mainly to the densely crowded living conditions and rising frustration over the slowness of resettlement. As a result, Jubilee centre, previously used as a Government reception facility, was opened as a second UNHCR-supported centre, and its administration entrusted to Caritas. Approximately 1,000 Vietnamese refugees of southern origin were transferred to this new 'open" centre. with the continued arrival of new groups of refugees, and the stagnating rate of resettlement, a new policy was introduced by the hong kong authorities as from July 1982, whereby all new arrivals would be accommodated in "closed" centres administered by the authorities and would no longer benefit from the possibility of seeking employment. This has meant increasing needs with respect to care and maintenance. Moreover, with the slower rate of resettlement, waiting periods have extended. At the end of 1982, over 70 per cent of the caseload had been residing in hong kong for over three years.
824. Considerable progress was achieved in 1982 in strengthening the co-ordination mechanisms for assistance to refugees in Hong Kong, which is a joint effort involving substantial inputs from the Hong kong authorities, voluntary agencies and UNHCR. The authorities have borne all the staff and administrative costs incurred in running the "closed" refugee centres, as well as those of other reception, transit and departure centres which they operate. They have also covered the cost of transferring refugees between the various reception and departure centres. Voluntary agencies, for their part, have continued to fund most of the welfare services providing health care, education and community activities. Measures were also under way towards the end of 1982 to increase refugee participation in the planning and financing of services affecting their everyday life, thus encouraging them to share fully in decisions concerning their future.
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
26 SEP 1933
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken