existing
camps
OPTIONS OPEN TO HONG KONG
RESETTLEMENT
HONG KONG WILL CONTINE TO WORK ON POTENTIAL RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND ON UNHCR FOR MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES. THE MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY THE US, ARE NOW QUOTING THE ABSENCE OF A UK QUOTA AS A REASON FOR CUTTING BACK THEIRS. IT IS THEREFORE UNLIKELY THAT MORE PLACES WILL BE FOUND UNLESS UK TAKES THE LEAD BY AGREEING TO AT LEAST A SMALL ADDITIONAL QUOTA OF SAY 1,000 SPREAD OVER 2 1/2 YEARS. WE COULD THEN PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE US, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND THE UNHCR.
CLOSED CENTRES
IN AN ATTEMPT TO DETER REFUGEES FROM COMING TO HONG KONG, CLOSED CENTRES WERE INTRODUCED ON 2 JULY 1982. BUT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE NEW POLICY IS DETERRING ANY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER. IF THE PROJECTED RATE OF ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES OCCURS, THERE WILL BE INSUFFICIENT ROOM FOR ANY MORE ARRIVALS AFTER AUTUMN 1983.
THE VERY LOW OFFTAKE TO USA (ONLY 190 HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED OUT OF THE 3,200 WHO HAVE ARRIVED SINCE 2 JULY 1982) AND TO OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES FROM THE CLOSED CENTRES, WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO SERIOUS TROUBLE IN THE CENTRES NEXT SUMMER.
INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
TO REPATRIATE ALL FUTURE ARRIVALS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGES IN THE MAKE UP OF THE ARRIVALS FROM ETHNIC CHINESE FLEEING PERSECUTION IN 1979 TO ETHNIC VIETNAMESE SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES IN 1932.
UNHCR HIMSELF CONTINUES OFFICIALLY TO REGARD BOAT PEOPLE
AS REFUGEES (WHATEVER THE FACTUAL POSITION). DEPUTY UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG, STRESSED THAT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFUGEES. IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PERUSADE HIM THAT THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE.
FCO IN THE PAST HAVE ADVISED THAT INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS A NON-STARTER FOR NUMEROUS REASONS INCLUDING THE FACT THE UNHCR AND THE FREE WORLD STILL CONSIDER THEM AS REFUGEES. THEY ALSO MAINTAIN, THOUGH NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PRODUCED, THAT VRS WILL FACE PERSECUTION IF THEY ARE REPATRIATED.
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CONFIDENTIAL
/ THE
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