TNAG-1157-FCO40-1437-Visits-by-FCO-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 91

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4. Given pressure for resettlement of refugees from elsewhere

(eg Poland, Iran), the Home Office see a new quota as virtually out of the question. Britain is not a popular choice among boat people. Apart from dependants of those already here, most prefer the USA. 4 out of 5 of those settled here are unemployed

and integration has proved difficult. The cost of keeping them is high.

5.

But Hong Kong's problems are recognised: the expense of

closed camps, local resentment at special treatment accorded to

Vietnamese (Chinese "illegals", even dependants, are sent back

to China), the risk of ending up with the unresettled residue.

We are lobbying others on their behalf US, Australia, Sweden,

France in recent months and through UNHCR. We are also

pressing the Home Office to accelerate reception of outstanding

UK ship rescue cases (the "City of Edinburgh"), to take the

residue from a Hong Kong registered ship (the "Po Yang"), to

loosen family reunion criteria, and to admit some (40) orphans

whom Ockenden Venture and Save the Children Fund have offered to

take. If successful, these should help, but major resettlement

states are increasingly taking from elsewhere and arguing that

Hong Kong is a UK responsibility. UK reluctance to take more refugees makes it even more difficult to argue Hong Kong's

case.

Future Prospects

6. Fewer boat people now are ethnic Chinese or from

professional or business classes. More are leaving from

northern and central rather than southern Vietnam (and are

therefore less likely to qualify for the US), and more for economic rather than purely political reasons. Unless Hanoi

makes a determined move to stop emigration or accelerates the

"Orderly Departure Programme", (set up by agreement with UNHCR in 1979, in which the Vietnamese Government arrange for exit visas for those who wish to emigrate to the West) or unless poor

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