TNAG-1181-FCO40-1483-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 101

CONFIDENTIAL #2

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Deterrent Effect

32.

The nub of the issue is whether the

establishment of closed camps in Hong Kong will

deter people from leaving Vietnam. This is

difficult to say at this stage, but it is generally

felt that it would have some deterrent effect. If this

is correct, then the extra cost would be justified.

If not, then the change of policy may still be

justified on the following grounds :-

I

(a) The USA which is the main resettlement

country for Vietnamese refugees from

Hong Kong has been continuously

pressing for the adoption of a

"humane deterrence" to discourage more

refugees from coming out of Vietnam.

If something positive is not done in

Hong Kong to demonstrate our resolve,

the USA may be less inclined to accept

more refugees from Hong Kong in future.

At Annex C is a list showing the inflow,

outflow and population of Vietnamese refugees

in Hong Kong and the Region since 1979 and

the countries in which Hong Kong refugees have

been resettled;

(b) This policy only brings Hong Kong into

line with the rest of the Region;

but at the offence of restores sympathy

As some extent

/(c)