INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES
CONFIDENTIAL
(ii) REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
ESSENTIAL FACTS
NUMBERS
1
Even
There were about 5,000 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong at the beginning of the year. A further 73,153 have arrived since (up to 13 November). UNHCR have so far resettled only 17,409 leaving 61,796 on 13 November still waiting in Hong Kong. on the assumption of no future arrivals and a likely departure rate of 4,000 refugees per month, Hong Kong will not have resettled its refugee population until 1981.
2
On present estimates, of 20,000 resettlement places likely to be available outside the six major programmes (USA, Canada, West Germany, France, Australia, UK), only 2,000 will be made available to Hong Kong. We hope Mr de Haan can take action to reinforce his earlier pleas for a fairer allocation of resettlement places before resettlement programmes for 1980 are finalised.
UNHCR RESPONSIBILITIES IN HONG KONG
3
The UNHCR have allocated increased resources to Hong Kong and have agreed, with effect from 1 September 1979, to assume Neverhteless, full responsibility for refugees in Hong Kong.
the Hong Kong Government still fear that the UNHCR's proposed allocation for the rest of 1979 and for 1980 will be inadequate to meet the likely costs. We have already expressed our concern to UNHCR who have noted our comments.
REFUGEES REACHING HONG KONG VIA CHINA
4
On 19 September, Hong Kong returned 733 refugees to China, under an agreement reached with the Chinese Government for the return of Vietnamese refugees who reach Hong Kong illegally after first having been allowed to resettle in China.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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