TNAG-1182-FCO40-1484-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 116

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7.

Meanwhile the outflow into the region from Vietnam has

continued though at a much reduced rate when compared to the sombre

days of 1979. Even so 74,000 arrived in 1981 of whom 8,470 came

here.

2. At the same time, there is a growing conviction here and in

resettlement countries that many of those refugees leaving Vietnam now

are no longer fleeing persecution, as they wore in 1979, but are

seeking a more attractive life elsewhere. Although the Vietnamese

authorities appear to be taking firm measures to prevent people

leaving Vietnam, the fact remains that they are still getting away,

though at a reduced rate. This has led countries of first asylum

and the main resettlement countries to consider other means to deter

people from leaving Vietnam. The term used is humane deterrence.

9. What therefore is the prognosis for Hong Kong? There is a very

real danger that, in the face of greatly reduced resettlement

opportunities, Hong Kong, with its open camps for refugees, will become

the main destination for those who are now seeking to leave Vietnam.

Indeed, some may be misled into believing that Hong Kong itself may

be a likely place of permanent resettlement. To underline that this

is not the case the Bill before Council makes it clear that refugees

cannot gain Chinese resident status. The number of refugees coming

into the region as a whole in the first five months of 1982 as compared

with the same period in 1981 has dropped from 39,500 to 21,200, about

46%. But the number coming to Hong Kong has only dropped from 3,500

to 3,200 S.6% the lowest percentage fall in the region. These

figures indicate that some positive changes must be made to reduce the

"pull" of Hong Kong as a destination.

/para 10.