are ethnic Chinese coming from the south and eight from the north, with a remaining 2,042 ethnic Vietnamese broken down as 1,022
from the south and 1,020 from the north.
There has been a total of 855 departures from "closed" centres
this year including ship rescue cases.
The following comments were made: -
Mr. Cummings wondered about a similar comparative of arrival/ departure patterns in specific countries/territories of first asylum in Asia. (A copy of these figures is attached hereto.)
To Mr. Cummings query on whether the "closed" centre policy is
relevant to the decline in small boat arrivals in Hong Kong
Mr. Williamson commented that the figures are down owing to a
number of reasons, one of which is the "humane deterrent" policy,
shortage of boats, smaller number of people who want to leave
and the Orderly Departure Programme. He also noted that 80% of
all new arrivals deny any knowledge of the closed camp policy.
(6) Comments on Other Background Information
The tables on statistics for Hong Kong caseload as at 30 June 1983
were used to discuss this subject.
Under this topic the following points were raised:-
(a) Mr. Leeks queried on cases not yet submitted to a country who
are residing in "open" centres. (Summary statistics P.1 item C.(d) refers) Mr. Chuasai replied that a majority of
these cases were those who arrived in Hong Kong after the
"cut off" date of category 4E (4 December 1981) having no
relatives in the U.S.A. nor anywhere else.
(b) Mrs. Lasan pointed out that the U.S.A. are now considering
unaccompanied minors up to their 18th birthday.
8