VIETNAMESE REFUGEEES
ESSENTIAL FACTS
CONFIDENTIAL
Refugee Population
1.
About 12,800 boat people awaiting resettlement in camps in
Hong Kong. Highest number in South East Asia. Despite
gradual decrease in numbers of people fleeing Vietnam bo boat, Hong
Kong's refugee population steadily rising. Main reason is
diminishing resettlement opportunities. 76% of Hong Kong's refugee population have been there for over a year; 'hardcore' of 23% for
over 4 years. Additional problem, which is receiving publicity in
Hong Kong, is high birth rate within camps: 727 in 1983.
Closed Camp Policy
2. After slow start, policy now having some effect on arrivals in
Hong Kong. Figures for 1983 about 53% down on 1982, compared with
regional decrease of 36%. But closed camps are not by themselves a
solution to refugee problem. Moreover, there have recently been
serious disturbances at one of the camps (Hei Ling Chau) caused by
friction between Northern and Southern Vietnamese. Northerners and
Sotherners now segregated into separate camps, but further trouble is expected as refugees' frustration increases.
Human Rights
3.
FCO Legal Advisers consider that Hong Kong's closed
camp legislation puts UK in breach of obligations under
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
(i) by imprisoning Vietnamese refugees arbitrarily and without
judicial redress;
(ii) by subjecting them to harsh prison rules.
At our request, the Hong Kong Government now considering ways of amending camp rules, to reduce risk of international criticism under
ii) above. However amendments, of which we are still awaiting
CONFIDENTIAL
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