N
4.
This year there has been a further reduction in the
number of Vietnamese refugees arriving. In the first 11 months
of 1985, 1,034 Vietnamese refugees reached Fong Kong compared
with 2,230 in the corresponding period of last year. Fecause the
rate of resettlement is also declining, the hard fact remains
that the problem of Vietnamese refugees is still with us and
there is no indication that it will disaṛpear in the ccring
The number of refugees in our camps is now 9,577 car pared
with 12,258 this time last year.
year.
5.
As regards illegal immigrants from China, there has
been a marked increase in the number of arrivals. In the first
11 months of this year, a total of 11,536 illegal immigrants from
China vere arrested while attemṛting to enter Hong Kong and a
further 3,014 who had evačeć security forces at the border were
arrested subsequently, compared with 8,786 Forder arrests and
2,780 evaders during the same period last year. As I said
recently in this Council in reply to a cuestion from Ir HC
Kar-fai, the 30% increase so far this year is the result of
combination of factors including rumours circulating that en
amnesty would be cranted. It has been reiterated in this Council
and on other occasions in public that all those caught would be
repatriated. The security forces are as vigilant as ever and are
keeping the border under tight control.
/...3