TNAG-1185-FCO40-1487-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL #3

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to arrive, and it was too early to assess how successful the policy had been. He reiterated that Hong Kong remained essentially an humane and tolerant community, but one also where the contrast between the treatment of illegal immigrants from China and boat people from Vietnam was increasingly called in question.

3.

Mr. Smyser recognised that Hong Kong had felt the introduction of closed centres to be necessary, if undesirable; UNHCR was not sure that closed centres were a deterrent to more than the "marginal" cases, but was grateful for Hong Kong Government efforts to administer closed centres humanely and without any "prison" stigma attached. He noted that other countries continued to look to HM Government as an example of how refugees should be treated, and the UNHCR was very conscious of this fine tradition.

4.

Mr. 3myser continued that he recognised that the "lines" of arrival and departure rates had in Hong Kong's case recently crossed, and that this was causing concern. He felt that the resettlement picture was not as bleak

e.g. in the

UBA as it might seem, and now was not the time to give up on the resettlement effort. US attitudes were currently very much framed by immigration and economic problems, and this might change. He understood S for S would be having further discussions with the US Consul General Mr. Levin, and so would he. He stressed that the situation did not call for desperate measures; the UNHCR recognised the growing concern of countries of first asylum, and would try to meet it by means of further approaches to resettlement countries, and a development of the ODP.

5.

HE observed that Hong Kong's special concern derived from the fact that, unlike elsewhere, its refugee population was now growing; and also that Hong Kong now appeared to be attracting a larger share of the regional outflow - a result of the easier northern journey, the lack of any piracy danger, and Hong Kong's reputation for humane treatment of boat people. Mr. Anvar noted that he had met refugees in Chi Ma Wan who had moved from South to North Vietnam before leaving illegally, because the security forces were less active in the north.

6.

Mr. Smyser stressed that the UNHCR must remain true to its humanitarian ideals, but was not starry-eyed about future prospects. So much had been done since 1975 that it would be wrong to over-react now. The High Commissioner was determined

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