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06
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
Points to Make
FLE
ORIGINAL
COPY SENT G.GRffLTHS FIN SEPT
19
- So far, arrivals well down on last year (March 1990 68% less than March 1989). Voluntary repatriation proceeding steadily: 1848 have returned and nearly 2,000 in the pipeline. Rate should reach 1,000
a month by May/June.
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Resettlement of refugees is ahead of schedule and ODA are funding extension to the Refugee Processing Centre in the Philippines. Could be no refugees left in Hong Kong at end of year.
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Steady net decline in boat people population in Hong Kong means that our policy is working. But could still be upset if unmanageable influx develops.
- Work now starting on new camp at Tai A Chau, to which we are contributing. Remoteness of the Island will reduce political profile (and thus pressure with Hong Kong and British Governments) as well as reducing severe overcrowding in other centres.
UNHCR working hard in support of initiative by new High Commissioner (Stoltenberg) launched in March in support of CPA. fully support his efforts.
But UNHCR are chronically short of
funds. Hong Kong would be main losers if UNHCR had to limit operations (because problem is most acute in Hong Kong). Our continuing financial contribution fully justified.
We
- Mr Maude persuaded Vietnamese to accept back 1,000 volunteers a month from May. Negotiations on return of non-volunteers continue: will become crucial if flow of volunteers dries up.
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Provided no major influx develops, we now have a sustainable
policy which is steadily reducing the problem. Possible timescale for clearance of boat people population in Hong Kong is three years.
PTAAOY