TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 110

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

This was nut

pom mentioned

to are by Hi Heywood.

UNHCR convened a cecond meeting on 16 March when the results of the selection vicit were discussed. Hr Heywood (Deputy Secretary of Security, Hong Kong) said that the visit had crystallined what had been becoming increasingly clear over the past few months. It appeared that the Vietnamese refugees were too comfortable in Hong Kong and they were content to remain there, living in the camps with plenty of well-paid work available until such time as they achieved entry to the USA. lic said that the Hong Kong government was now considering the introduction of legislation to withdraw permission to take employment pending resettlement and also restricting the refugees' freedom to come and co from the UNHCR camps.

?

This selection visit showed a net loss of 172 towards filling the quota. The present position regarding the quotas of 11,000 is:

Selected on previous visits

Now selected

11,042

385

Total selections

11,427

Iess:

no longer in Hong Kong camps

now removed from selection list

430

557

10,440

Plus:

Hong Kong born children who have accompanied

their parents to the United Kingdom

154

NET TOTAL ARRIVED, OR ELIGIBLE TO COME, FROM HONG KONG:

10,594

Although the hope that this visit would complete selection for the quota vas OU realised, the visit was still very worthwhile. The efforts made to fill the

quota were widely publicised and UNHCR, and in particular the US selection mission, were fully aware of the lack of interest among the Vietnamese refugees in coming to the United Kingdon.. There is now little expectation in refugee circles in Hong Kong of any additional UK quota.

Thuumed The present quota can be filled by delegating authority to the Hong Kong be unwrik. | Immigration Department for family re-union cases with liberal criteria

(eg including aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, etc). Once the quote is complete. re-union cases can continue on the more strict nuclear family criteria as now

5.

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