F:
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
RESTRICTED
1.
Pressures in Hong Kong for New Policy
So
We
We are acutely conscious of the gravity of the crisis facing Hong Kong. There are now over 13,500 boat people in the territory. far this year there have been well over 4,500 arrivals: this represents an eight-fold increase on the same period last year. are aware of calls in Hong Kong for a review of policy, and are in
My close contact with the Hong Kong Government on the way forward. Rt Hon and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary had extensive discussions on this matter when he visited Hong Kong at the end of No decisions have however been taken on future policy.
May.
2. Screening
Screening is certainly one of the options open to the Hong Kong
Government.
3.
Durable Solutions
The root of It is clear that resettlement alone is not the answer. the problem lies in Vietnam. The present outflow of boat people is an appalling indicment of the economic and social policies of the Vietnamese Government. The long-term solution lies in the creation of internationally acceptable conditions in Vietnam to permit the return to Vietnam of those whose reason for leaving is essentially economic, and do not meet the criteria to be considered refugees. We are in contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and with the main resettlement countries on this question. There is now active international discussion of the possibility of returning to Vietnam under suitable safeguards those who do not meet the criteria of refugees. The entire international community must join to urge the Vietnamese Government to take their own people
back.
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