BACKGROUND
1. There are at present over 13,600 boat people in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement. This compares with under 10,000 in April
1982. Over 90,000 refugees have been resettled from Hong Kong since.
1975, but resettlement opportunities are now diminishing, mainly because of a tendency by the main resettlement countries
(particularly the US) to classify Hong Kong's refugees as "economic
migrants" who fall outside their resettlement criteria, rather than
genuine refugees fleeing from political persecution.
Closed Camps
2. Since July 1981 the Hong Kong Government have placed all new
arrivals in closed camps from which they are not permitted to seek outside employment. The policy brings Hong Kong into line with other places of first asylum in the region. UNHCR contributes to the funding of the closed camps. Figures for arrivals up to June 1983 are about 50% down on last year, (compared with a regional decrease of 37%), suggesting that the new policy is beginning to
have the desired effect of deterring others from setting out.
}