PROPOSAL FOR A PLANNED PROGRAMME OF RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK
FOR REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG
Introduction
There are at present over 25,000 people from Vietnam living in camps and detention centres in Hong Kong. Of these around 16,000 arrived before the 16th June 1938 when Hong Kong's "open door" policy towards Vietnamese ceased and screening procedures to determine refugee status were introduced. These people have refugee status and are awaiting resettlement in a third country.
For people who arrived after 15th June the screening procedure distinguishes between those who meet the UNHCR definition of refugee and other migrants. Our most recent information from the Hong Kong Government Office in London is that less than 1,000 new arrivals from Vietnam have been interviewe. It is unknown how many have been given refugee status. Those deemed to be "illegal immigrants" are being held in detention centres. People are continuing to arrive from Vietnam.
The organisations involved in formulating this proposal are extremely concerned by the large numbers of people from Vietnam in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement, and by reports of extremely poor living conditions in closed camps and particularly in detention centres. It is essential that those people with refugee status should swiftly be offered the opprtunity of resettlement in order that they are able to rebuild their lives and that the burden of providing for the refugees he lifted from the Hong Kong government.
At present limited opportunities are available to refugees with sponsors in America, Canada, Australia and Europe. These opportunities are insignificant when compared to the numbers still waiting in Hong Kong and are selective, disfavouring those without relatives and those with special needs, eg long stayers, unaccompanied minors etc. (numbers resettled from January to June 1938 in the main resettlement countries: USA-326; Canada-749; Australia-242; UK-135).
As in 1979 other resettlement countries are again looking to Britain, with its historic links with Hong Kong, to take a lead in accepting refugees from Hong Kong. Without this lead other countries will not increase their resettlement offers and the problem in Hong Kong will remain intractable. We urge the British Government to recognise the needs of the refugees and to consider a continued and extended programme of resettlement in the UK.