TNAG-0970-FCO40-1189-Statistics-on-refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 43

BACKGROUND NOTE

Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong

1. 73,692 Vietnamese boat refugees were allowed to land

temporarily in Hong Kong in 1979 and a further 1,128 have

arrived so far this year; 24,377 Vietnamese refugees from

Hong Kong were resettled by UNHCR in countries of permanent

settlement in 1979 and a further 13,548 up to 6 May this

year.

2. The British Government undertook last July to accept

10,000 of these refugees for resettlement in the United

Kingdom (in addition to 1,500 Vietnamese refugees under a

previous quota). Last year 3,897 were resettled in this

country and just over 2,000 have been resettled here this

year up to 6 May. It is hoped that the full commitment

will be completed by the end of the year.