TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 46

Mr Donald

PS/Mr Luce

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

This Draft did not issue.

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: R D CLIFT HKD

DATE:

cc: Mr Hartland-Swann SEAD

Mr Williams, UND

Mr Burrows, Legal

Advisers

PROBLEM

1. What should be our policy towards Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong over the coming months?

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that in the short term we should do what we can to

encourage a continuing decline in the numbers fleeing Vietnam rather than attempt to obtain any significant increase in the numbers being resettled from places of first asylum. In particular we should maintain the momentum of the Orderly Departure Programme. We should also concert international pressure on the Vietnamese to soften their attitude to boat people, with the aim of encouraging voluntary repatriation. We should inform the Hong Kong Government

of our assessment and seek their views. SEAD, UND and begot ite 'Depetint's

Counsellor

werf Concur.

BACKGROUND

Present position

3. There are at present about 13,300 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement. Of these, 33% have been in Hong Kong for 2 years or more and 23% for over 4 years. The numbers of arrivals in Hong Kong have declined by over 50% compared with 1982, partly as a result of the introduction of the closed camp policy in July 1982.. However, the numbers resettled from Hong Kong have also declined, so that the total in Hong Kong has gradually increased from a low point of under 10,000 in April 1982.