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were returned on 20 May. The next flight will be on 13 July, subject to Vietnamese approval.
12,332
23. The outflow from Vietnam has been capped. There were only 12 new arrivals in Hong Kong in 1992, compared with 20,000 in 1991. There have been three so far in 1993. Voluntary repatriation too has been quite successful: non-refugees went home in 1992 and more than 28,000 have returned under UNHCR auspices since voluntary repatriation began in 1989. We hope to increase the rate of voluntary return in 1993, but the Vietnamese have genuine difficulty in reintegrating so many returnees. The total Vietnamese
population in Hong Kong is now 42,500.
24. Recent minor (but irritating) difficulties with the Vietnamese over the ORP may well be linked to their appetite for a renewal of the Hong Kong aid package, which they see as crucial to reintegration. It is clear that if Hong Kong expect continued Vietnamese cooperation on returns they must make a further commitment as soon as possible. The Minister may wish to take this opportunity to urge them to do so. The Vietnamese appear, however, to be satisfied with HMG's continued financial support of the UNHCR and the EC-led International Reintegration Programme, and with our small bilateral programme.
25. We have been able to get the UNHCR to highlight the problem of their debt to Hong Kong in their fund-raising activities, and we are pressing major donors to include an element for this when considering this year's contributions.
26.
There has been recent and inaccurate press speculation that the UNHCR may pull out of Hong Kong. The UNHCR Chief of Mission (Van Leeuwen) has stated that the UNHCR will remain in Hong Kong until the boat people problem is solved.
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