*
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CONFIDENTIAL
IV
8.
PROBLEMS OVER RESETTLEMENT
in Hong Kong were
Western countries
are
Of the 58,543 Vietnamese who arrived in Hong Kong in the first
half of 1979, 84% were ethni Chinese. They were considered by resettlement countries to fall under the accepted definition of "refugees"* through their persecution for reasons of race. After 1979 however the proportion of ethnic Chinese arriving in Hong Kong dropped to 2-3%. Initially most of the ethnic Vietnamese arriving
from South Vietnam; they were readily accepted by
as refugees, on grounds of political persecution.
Now however the proportion of Northerners is increasing.
Resettlement countries are reluctant to accept that Northerners
true refugees fleeing from political oppression when, unlike those
from the South, they have accepted communist rule for 30 years. They regard them instead as "economic migrants" who are simply in
search of a better future. Surveys conducted by the Hong Kong
Immigration Department have indeed shown that 54% of new arrivals
since early 1983 have left Vietnam for economic reasons, whereas
only 26% have done far political reasons. (The remaining 20% have left for other reasons, eg to seek family reunion). [However,
as long as the Vietnamese refuse to take them back, it is arguable
that the "economic migrants" should continue to be classified as
though may even the ugh the nature of thin percution may be mother refugees Fegardless of their original reason for Teaving. Vietnam).
ethnie
over though they may be subject to reither ethrine nor political persecution!
il
(FOOTNOTE)
The 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees defines a
refugee as any person who "owing to well-founded fear of being
persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of
a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the
country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or
who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his
former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or,
owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it".
CONFIDENTIAL