TNAG-1186-FCO40-1488-Statistics-on-refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 53

Parliamentary Unit

HKK 243/2

RESTRICTED

RELOVEL

WOEX

NO.

51

2.2

PQS: HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1.

I submit draft replies to 2 PQs by Mr Ian Wrigglesworth MP

for written answer. The substance of these drafts has been cleared

with the Hong Kong Government.

2.

See HKRZ 43/1

Hong Kong has since the mid-70s been one of the major

destinations for boat refugees from Vietnam. In mid-1979 there

were some 68,000 refugees in the Territory awaiting resettlement.

As a result of resettlement, mainly in the United States, Canada

and the United Kingdom, the figure fell to a total of about 10,000

at the end of April 1982.

3.

Although the outflow from Vietnam has dropped the number

being moved out of Hong Kong has fallen even more sharply as a result

of the cut-back in resettlement places elsewhere. This, along with

seasonal factors, has resulted in a rise in numbers in Hong Kong

since early May reflect in the figures given in reply to

Dr Edmond Marshall's PQs of 8 April (10,440) and 1 July (11,253).

This was explained in Mr Rifkind's reply to Dr Marshall's PQ of

12 July.

Вир

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

20 July 1982

сс

PS/Lord Belstead

Mr Donald

RE STRICTED