RESTRICTED
CLOSED CAMPS: DETERRENT EFFECT
17. Evidence is that the policy is effective in discouraging Vietnamese from setting out for Hong Kong
1981
1982
Hong Kong arrivals increased 25% over 1980 level.
Regional increase only 5%.
(closed camp policy introduced July).
Hong Kong arrivals decreased 7%.
Regional decrease 41%.
1983
Hong Kong arrivals decreased 53%.
1984
Regional decrease 36%.
Hong Kong arrivals decreased 39%.
18.
Regional decrease 11%.
Those who argue that Hong Kong's refugee burdens were already
declining when closed camps were introduced should bear in mind that
in July 1982, the month in which Hong Kong changed their policy,
arrivals in the territory reached their highest level for three
years: over 1,600 refugees arrived in Hong Kong in a single month,
or half of the month's total arrivals for the whole region. Since
then there has been a more or less consistent decrease in arrivals
in the territory.