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MDLIAN 3516
SHARP INCREASE OF ARRIVALS (WHICH CAN BE EXPECTED TO ESCALATE
EVEN FURTHER DURING THE SUMMER WITH THE CHANGE TO FAVOURABLE
WINDS) CANNOT SIMPLY PERSIST WITH EXISTING POLICY OF TREATING
ALL ARRIVALS AS THOUGHT THEY WERE GENUINE REFUGEES WITH A REAL
HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT.
/
(II) NEW POLICY
(A) AS FROM 16 JUNE HONG KONG WILL ADOPT A NEW POLICY. BOAT
PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM WILL BE TREATED ON ARRIVALS AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UNLESS, THROUGH SCREENING, IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT THEY ARE GENUINE REFUGEES. SCREENING WILL FOLLOW UNHCR
GUIDELINES. UNHCR WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK THESE PROCEDURES ARE
FOLLOWED. ALSO WILL BE INVOLVED IN APPEALS.
(B)
GENUINE REFUGEES WILL BE ACCOMMODATED INITIALLY IN CLOSED
CAMPS WITH OTHER REFUGEES ALREADY HERE. OVER TIME, CONDITIONS
IN THESE CAMPS WILL BE LIBERALIZED. NON-REFUGEES WILL BE HELD
AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITHOUT ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT PENDING
REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WHEN THIS IS POSSIBLE.
(C) OBJECTIVE OF NEW POLICY IS TO DETER PEOPLE FROM LEAVING VIETNAM. IMPORTANT TO GET THIS MESSAGE OVER. IF SUCCESSFUL, SHOULD NOT LEAD TO MAJOR BUILD-UP OF II'S IN CAMPS.
BACKGROUND NOTE
NUMBER OF ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
ARRIVALS
DEPARTURES
1979
68,748
24,377
1980
6,788
37,468
1981
8,470
17,818
1982
7,836
9.247
1983
3,651
4,200
1984
2,230
3,694
1985
1,112
3,953
1986
2,055
3,816
1987
3,395
2,212
1988
6,291
1,132
(TO 6 JUNE)
LENGTH OF STAY IN HONG KONG (AS AT END OF MAY)
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