*
17240
HKK 24.3
RECEIVED IN RES
NO. 51
Fact Sheet on Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong.
INDEX
No
Joa.
Background
Hong Kong, with a land area of only 1,045 sq. km. (404 sq. mls) much of which is unproductive hillsides and barren islets, has a popula- tion of nearly 5 million. This is equivalent to an overall density of 4,487 persons per sq. km, as compared to a population density of 3,921 persons per sq. km. in Singapore, 230 persons per sq. km. in the United Kingdom and 22 persons per sq. km. in U.S.A. In the main urban areas (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan), where most of the population lives, the population density reaches 25,400 persons per sq. km.
In one particular district (Mong Kok), there are about 144,000 persons per sq. km., eight times that of Tokyo. 98% of the people of Hong Kong are ethnic Chinese.
2+
In addition to population increase by natural births (minus deaths), Hong Kong also has to contend with all the problems of absorbing large numbers of immigrants from China who entered (and continue to enter) Hong Kong both legally and illegally. In 1978 and 1979 there have been over 200,000 of these which represents an addition to the population of Hong Kong of about 4% in just 21 months.
Boat Refugee Arrivals
3.
*
The first boat refugees to arrive in Hong Kong from Vietnam were the 3,700 who came on board the freighter 8.S Clara Maersk in May 1975. It took almost 3 years to resettle them to other countries. Meanwhile, hoat refugees continued to arrive in Hong Kong, and the trickle of 1976 and 1977 turned into a flood in 1978 and 1979.
No. of refugees arrived
1975
1976.
3,743
191
1977
1,001
1978
6.609
Daily Average
1979
January
5,395
174
February
5,552
198
March
3,114
100
April
6,143
205
May
18,688
603
June
19,651
655
July
8,045
268
August
3.247
105
September 1 26.
<<
2,581
00
Sub-total (1979 to 26 September)
72.417
269
Total:
83.961
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