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For information
HKK 243/1
RECEIVES IN REGISTAY MO. 51.
14 AUG 1978
NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
XCRI (78)20 Copy No ..
28
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
شاط
PA
Action Teen
Ar
At the meeting
meeting on 11th July, Honourable Members asked for information on the policy on admission of Vietnamese refugees to Hong Kong. As at 25th July there were 1, 873 refugees in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement abroad. By comparison there are about 100,000 Indo-Chinese refugees in Thailand and 12-13, 000 in Malaysia.
G.S. 84
How the problem arose
2
The fall of the former South Vietnamese Government in April 1975 led almost immediately to an exodus from Vietnam of residents who did not wish to live under the communist regime. Whilst many departed overland into Thailand, a large number set out in small boats for destinations as diverse as Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Hong Kong. Some were rescued from their sinking craft by passing ships, whilst others managed to sail on directly to their chosen destinations.
3
The
Hong Kong felt the impact of this exodus dramatically in May 1975, when a Danish freighter, the "Clara Maersk", rescued 3,743 refugees from a sinking ferry and brought them to Hong Kong at a day's notice. Emergency arrangements were made to accommodate the refugees in Government camps pending their resettlement abroad. One or two smaller groups who arrived at about this time were also accommodated in the camps. Government successfully engaged in intensive diplomatic activity, to persuade countries to accept a share of these refugees for permanent resettlement. The USA accepted nearly 2, 500; other groups went to Canada (349), France (347), Australia (210) and Austria (162). The UK took 35 and Hong Kong accepted 76 who had relatives here. Of the original 3, 743 from the Clara Maersk, only 19 now remain.
The "AVA" incident
4
After "Clara Maersk" it was decided to restrict the landing of refugees to those arriving on British ships unless there were compelling compassionate grounds for allowing them ashore. It was recognised that this ad hoc procedure could not continue
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