CONFIDE. PIAL
much slower than the rate of their arrival in various South-East
Asian countries: thus, the build-up in South-East Asia continues. Thailand has about 2,000 "boat refugees" to add to the burden posed by the 127,000 refugees who crossed overland and are now in camps
in Thailand.
5. We and the Hong Kong Government are concerned about the problems which would arise should ships like the HAI HONG, laden with thousands of refugees, put into Hong Kong. The Colony is already overcrowded but has a very good record in accepting refugees: indeed, the Hong Kong Government organized flights out of Vietnam for some 4,000 people with Hong Kong connections; a further 6,000 "belongers" have made their own way to Hong Kong. Many thousands of Vietnamese refugees have passed through Hong Kong for resettle- ment elsewhere, but there are currently around another 4,000 in the Colony who have little prospect of resettlement, and its resources are stretched.
6. Several hundred refugees from Vietnam have very recently arrived in Hong Kong by boat after having spent some time in China. Since there is no prospect of resettlement elsewhere for these people, the Hong Kong Government have tried to persuade the Chinese authorities to take them back, so far without success. The Embassy in Peking, have raised the matter there but there is no certainty that China will be able, even if willing, to prevent more of the tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese from Vietnam now in China from
going to Hong Kong.
7.
Refugees from Vietnam are only a small part of the Hong Kong Government's immigration problem. Hong Kong is faced with a sharply increased level of immigration from China. This is causing serious concern and the Chinese authorities have been asked both in Hong Kong and at the diplomatic level to do what they can. Arrivals from China must be the Hong Kong Government's first priority.
CONFIDENTIAL
/UNHCR Conferenc
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.