TNAG-0654-FCO40-803-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 89

CODE 18-77

UNIMEVE

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BRIEF

VIETNAMESE REFUGLES IN HONG KONG

Reference

1.

Since the fall of Saigon early in 1975 Hong Kong has provided temporary or permanent homes for a large number of Vietnamese refugees and illegal immigrants. In May 1975 about 4,000 refugees arrived by sea. The Hong Kong Government, with some help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), arranged for the resettlement of a very large number in the United States, France and Canada and smaller numbers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and the UK (about 35-50 eventually arrived in this country). In addition, some 5,000 Vietnamese refugees were estimated to have made their way to Hong Kong illegally during the first year or so of the end- ing of the war in Vietnam. The continuing influx of refugees and illegal immigrants has placed a heavy strain on Hong Kong's services and has led to some resentment on the part of the

permanent population of what is, in any case, a very over- crowded territory.

2.

There was a further problem with Vietnamese refugees in the Second half of 1976. In July about 100 arrived off Hong Kong aboard a Burmese-registered ship "MV Ava". The Hong Kong authorities, with HMG's support, were initially reluctant to allow these refugees to land for fear that other potential Vietnamese refugees would be encouraged to make for Hong Kong. In the event, the UNHCR's Office agreed to assume full respons- ibility for the refugees if they were landed temporarily in Hong Kong and to seek permanent homes for them elsewhere. Given this assurance and indications from certain governments, prin cipally the United States, that they might be prepared to accept refugees from the "Ava" for permenent settlement, the Hong Kong authorities decided to allow the refugees to land. They have subsequently allowed other smaller roups of

/Vietnamese

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