camps".
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REFUGEES
4.
Hong Kong currently has largest case load of Indo-Chinese regugees outside Thailand. Currently some 12,000 Vietnamese boat
people in Hong Kong, 115,000 refugees and 280,000 displaced Cambodians in Thailand, 9,100 in Malaysia. Singapore and Brunei maintain hostile approach, refuse to countenance arrival of
refugees. Resettlement slowing, partly as result of belief in main
resettlement countries that many now fleeing for economic motives,
rather than in fear of persecution. Frustrated by slow down in
resettlement, upsurge in arrivals, Thailand resorted to policy of
"pushing-off" new arrivals early this year. Has now amended its
stance, allowing arrivals to be housed at Site 2 refugee camp, but they will not be allowed access to resettlement places until present resettlement camp (Phanat Nikom) cleared. Hardline policy has sympathy, if not active support, of rest of ASEAN, which sees
continuing outflow as solely a problem for the West, and also
considers most of current departures as 'economic migrants', not
genuine refugees.
5.
To date over 20,000 Indo-Chinese refugees resettled in UK. But main resettlement countries consider our present efforts (468
over 2 years from Hong Kong) as inadequate believe we should do
more in Hong Kong. USA in particular therefore concentrating its
efforts elsewhere in region. In search for more effective
solutions, we are consulting with main resettlement countries (US,
Canada, Australia) and EC partners to see if scope exists for
multilateral approach to Vietnam to help remedy situation. We are
also contemplating introduction of new measures in Hong Kong in
effort to deter new arrivals.
SOUTH EAST ASIAN DEPARTMENT
MAY 1988
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