The possibility of resettling some Vietnamese within Hong Kong
itself
As Mr Luce explained in his oral evidence to SCORRI on 4 February,
Hong Kong has absorbed over 14,000* displaced persons from
Indo-China since 1975. It is one of the most densely populated
places in the world, and annually absorbs large numbers of
immigrants from China. Hong Kong people would strongly resent further settlement of Vietnaese persons, when illegal Chinese
immigrants, with whom they have closer ties, are being repatriated
daily. 230,000 have been repatriated since 1980. It would be very
hard to convince them that Vietnamese should be treated as a special
case and absorbed in large numbers than the present immigration
criteria allow. As a place of first asylum, Hong Kong has already
devoted substantial resources to giving shelter to over 100, 000
Vietnamese refugees since 1975. This is an admirable record.
Statistics:
*Breakdown of displaced Indo-Chinese absorbed by Hong Kong:
9026 persons temporarily or illegally resident in Hong Kong in 1975
(mainly Vietnamese, but some Khmer and Lao).
4782 Vietnamese brought from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong by
chartered flights between 1976 - 1979.
camps and other places of first
646 boat people from Hong Kong camps
asylum.
TOTAL: 14272
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