TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 115

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Possible Repercussions in Hong Kong if the UK accepted a further

quota of refugees from Hong Kong

1. It has been suggested that there might be adverse repercussions among British Dependent Territory Citizens in Hong Kong if more Vietnamese refugees were accepted for settlement in the UK, in the sense that these BDTCs would press for similar rights of admission. I do not think there is any evidence to support this.The Hong Kong Government, which would of course strongly favour a new initiative by HMG over resettlement, have never brought this to our attention

as an inhibiting factor. BDTCs are well aware that they do not have

The Hong Kong agreement makes no

right of abode in the UK. difference to their position in this respect. However it fully protects their right to reside in Hong Kong. It must be said that

the presence in Hong Kong of the Vietnamese refugees is a cause of

resentment among the local population:

s ome

land and other resources

i)

[ii

(ii)

because of the drain on

revenue) which could otherwise be used

for their own benefit;

because (with regard to those in open_camps) of the impact of Vietnamese on the local labour market)

because of the contrast between the reception of refugees from Vietnam and the necessary policy of repatriation of illegal immigrants from China, many of whom may have been seeking to join relatives in Hong Kong.

Moreover I think it is indisputable that the lack of a UK quota for

refugees from Hong Kong severely limits our ability to help solve the problem and is viewed critically in Hong Kong as a failure to

carry out our

our responsibilities towards a dependent territory. local population shares our hope for an early resolution of the

problem of refugees and would welcome any action taken by HMG and

other resettlement countries to alleviate the problem.

The

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