[ETIANV]
CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY MR RENTON: 27-31 OCTOBER 1985
10. VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
Points to make in public
1.
Greatly admire way Hong Kong has
refugee burden. Well aware of difficulties
a small, overcrowded territory.
2.
shouldered
such a large
this has posed for such
As a result of the SCORRI report, HMG has broadened its
criteria in
respect of family reunion cases with the result that
more refugees in Hong Kong will now qualify for
about 500
resettlement in Britain.
about 40 per month.
They will be resettled at the rate of
DEFENSIVE
3.
(Closed centres)
in
Hong Kong still has the largest number of
Vietnamese boat refugees in South East Asia (28% of the regional
total). HKG must continue with the closed centres as a deterrent.
Conditions in closed centres are generally good. To make life
them more tolerable and to ргераге the refugees for speedier
resettlement, HKG in conjunction with UNHCR and the voluntary
agencies i s launching a further series of educational,
and language training programmes in the closed centres.
4.
vocational
(Diplomatic campaign) Hope that HMG's decision to accept new
intake of refugees from Hong Kong will encourage other resettlement
are actively pursuing this with other
Too early yet to know results of
countries to take more:
countries.
(If pressed).
diplomatic campaign.
5.
(Acceptance by HMG of
family
reunion
cases.)
As
consider this.
shown by other
needs, and of all the circumstances
at
mind real
difficulties
experienced
of additional numbers in excess of the
White Paper explains, prepared to
Decision will be tak en in the light of willingness
resettlemen t countries to respond to Hong Kong's
the time. Have
to bear
by Vietnamese refugees
in
in
CONFIDENTIAL