PTZAEH
BACKGROUND
CONFIDENTIAL
General
1.
There are now about 25,000 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong, comprising over 15,000 pre-16 June and close to 10,000 post-16 June arrivals. (Statistics at Annex). After an exceptionally low number of arrivals since mid-September, November arrivals increased to 240 (compared with 115 in November 1987) and December's to 523 (there were 278 in December 1987). So far screening results have been announced for 567 post-16 June arrivals: 513 have been screened
out and 54 screened in as refugees.
2.
UNHCR
They will
The new policy is now well understood internationally. have effectively endorsed the screening arrangements. also manage the camps for refugees. The policy of liberalising these camps is now well in hand.
Resettlement
3.
Our conditional commitment to resettle a further 1000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong has been announced. Our offtake of refugees will double from 20 to 40 a month over the next 2 -3 years, provided that other countries agree to take substantial additional numbers of Vietnamese from Hong Kong. We have instructed posts to approach host governments on this. The Canadians have decided to increase their offtake from about 1,000 this year to 1,500 - 1,800 next year. The New Zealanders, who took 31 in 1988, will interview 18 families and 20 long stayers in March. These show that Canada and New
Zealand have also decided to increase their offtake in the light of present circumstances, and will be helpful in presenting our
conditional offer to others.
Repatriation
4.
Two rounds of talks have been held between British/Hong Kong Government representatives and representatives of the Vietnamese
CONFIDENTIAL