1973
COUNCIL
MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE
IMMIGRATION POLICY ON DEPENDANTS FROM VIETNAM, LAOS AND KAMPUCHEA
The purpose of this memorandum is to explain certain
difficulties which have arisen over the entry of dependants from Vietnam, and to propose a modification to existing policy so as to prevent a threatened large scale transfer of population to Hong Kong from Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea.
Background
2
Following the fall of Saigon in 1975 the Director of Immigration made special arrangements to help Hong Kong residents and their dependants stranded in Vietnam to return to Hong Kong. These included the stationing of two Immigration Officers in Bangkok to assist persons arriving there on Air France flights from Ho Chi Minh City in transit to Hong Kong, and, when these stopped, the organising of 25 special charter flights to bring people direct from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong.
3
So far a total of 693 Hong Kong residents and 4, 122 dependants have reached Hong Kong under these arrangements. In all cases the dependants transported by the Vietnamese authorities to Tan Son Nhat airport to board the special flights and issued with out-permits have been the same as those for whom Hong Kong entry permits were issued by the Immigration Department. There are however still 400 dependants in Vietnam holding Hong Kong entry permits. The present indications are that it will be possible to arrange 2 or 3 further flights during the coming months to bring them here.
4
Thus far the operation has been financially self-supporting, the direct costs being fully met by the air fare of $750 per person.
The Problem of the Dependants
5
During 1975 and 1976 the number of dependants seeking Hong Kong entry permits was not excessive. Initially, therefore, applications were judged against the normal criteria which, on the advice of Council, have been in force since 1968 for stateless aliens of Chinese race unable to obtain a recognised travel document of either
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