TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 242

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BRC Asia Comiliittee Meeting

18.5.83.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

Helen Yu (Hong Kong Government Office) gave an update of the situation in Hong Kong. She said that resettlement had now fallen from close to 37,000 in 1980 to only just over 9,000 in 1982. The decrease has been quite dramatic and future prospects for resettlement look very bleak, with the U.S.A., Australia and Canada being the only remaining countries regularly taking refugees from Hong Kong for resettlement. At the same time, the number of refugees arriving continues at a steady flow, with at least 12,400 refugees awaiting resettlement offers. In January to March this year, there had been 267 arrivals, 549 in April and 264 to date in May. She drew attention to the fact that Hong Kong had already absorbed 14,000 Vietnamese into its community since April 1975 which was an exceptionally high number for such a small population. This, and the fact that illegal immigrants from China have to be repatriated has led the situation in Hong Kong to be so serious that it had been suggested that the only solution to the Vietnamese problem would be forced repatriation.

However, it had been decided, in consultation with H.M. Government, that on humanitarian grounds it could not be justified to take such a decision at this time.

The policy of closed camps had been an attempt at "humane deterrence" but there was no evidence that this was having any effect. The USA was anxious that Hong Kong should be seen to be playing a role in deterrence and other resettlement countries were less likely to take more refugees unless Britain was seen to be fulfilling its obligations.

Helen Yu thanked the agencies and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for all that had been done, and for the continuing concern for the problem. She made a plea for some further support from the British in the resettlement of more refugees, in urging other resettlement countries to agree to take more, and in identifying ways in which to find long-term solutions to the situation.

Joyce Pearce (Ockenden Venture) reported that she had made a suggestion at the Ditchley Conference that Britain should consider taking a further quota of about 1,000 refugees from Vietnam.

There was a lengthy discussion of this issue during which the following points were made:

a) It was agreed that a further quota of refugees from Hong Kong would not be helpful

unless it were part of a broader strategy to solve the problems in South East Asia as a whole. There could be a real danger in resettling further refugees from Hong Kong if it were to result in even more coming out of Vietnam. A further quota could only be justified if it were certain that it was to clear a residue in the camps, and was done in conjunction with other action to prevent further refugee exodus.

b)

c)

The experience of the Vietnamese who had already come to Britain had to be considered. Although the programme had not been a complete failure, there was considerable hardship and distress being suffered by many groups of refugees. Unemployment, poor housing and isolation were common and were such that resettlemer to the UK was not necessarily the best solution.

Following

Preventative meausures, such as sending aid to Vietnam were considered. the last meeting, Martin Barber had sent a letter to the ODA regarding the proposal before the European Parliament that the EEC should approve both emergency aid and emergency food aid to Vietnam in the light of the great economic difficulties facing the people of that country who might otherwise be tempted to leave. There should be as much concern for the people in Vietnam as for the tiny proportion who leave.

Dianne Whalley (Christian Aid) reported that Christian Aid and CAFOD had been sending aid to Vietnam through an organisation in France.

The Committee agreed that measures of this type were important, but it was pointed out that aid would take a long time to have an impact and that short-term solutions were also needed to relieve the immediate problems of the refugees in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

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