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DESPATCH FROM LONDON
Y #PAUL LEGG
Tape No. 163
#HONG KONG REFUGEE POLICY CHANGE (RE-ISSUED) = D.1123
CUE • The government of Hong Kong is expected to announce tomorrow
(Wednesday) an end to its policy of accepting automatically all arrivals from Vietnam as legitimate refugees. As from
Thursday, all new arrivals are expected to be subject to a screening procedure to determine if they are genuine refugees or illegal immigrants. The change in policy follows a vast increase in the number of boat people arriving from Vietnam in the colony this year and a fall in the numbers leaving for resettlement elsewhere. Our Foreign Affairs correspondent " Paul Legg, reports:
Since the start of the year nearly eight-thousand boat people
from Vietnam have arrived in Hong Kong, reaching an average of nearly
two-hundred a day this month. The figures represent a vast increase
on previous years. Whereas in the past, they comprised mainly ethnic
Chinese from Vietnam genuine fugitives from political persecution
the vast majority of the new arrivals are said to be ethnic
Vietnamese, mostly farmers and fishermen in search of a better life.
Their arrival in Hong Kong has caused severe pressure on the small ።
overcrowded accommodation centres already in existence and resentment
As a result, among the local community who have to foot the bill.
the British government has come under considerable pressure to change
Under the changes, the open door policy to deter any more arrivals,
all new arrivals from midnight Wednesday local time will be
interviewed to determine whether they are genuine refugees or illegal
immigrants. Those found to be genuine refugees are expected to join
existing refugees already in the camps, while the illegal entrants
will be detained in separate camps pending repatriation to Vietnam.
Sources say repatriation will only take place after suitable
guarantees have been received from the government in Hanoi.
But,
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