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VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
During 1987, despite our best efforts and those of
the Hong Kong Government, the situation has
deteriorated. Arrivals in Hong Kong have increased;
departures for resettlement have declined; the
population in camps in Hong Kong has increased.
In May of last year my right honourable friend
the Home Secretary announced a further quota for
resettlement in this country. We have since made
diplomatic efforts to secure matching additional
resettlement offers by others I fear with
disappointing results.
An increasing proportion of the Vietnamese coming to
Hong Kong are from North Vietnam. For many the
motivation in leaving Vietnam is primarily economic:
arguably they do not fulfil the criteria to be regarded
as political refugees. We are now actively discussing
with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
and the governments most closely involved how those
Vietnamese not qualifying as refugees might be returned
to Vietnam, against suitable assurances that they would be
properly treated on their return.
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