TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 150

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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. BIDCS V

are well aware that they do not have right of abode in the UK.

The Hong Kong agreement makes no 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 some resentment among

the local population:

i)

ii)

iii)

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 our lack of action over

resettlement is viewed critically in Hong Kong as a failure to

carry out our responsibilities towards a dependent territory.

In short I believe that the 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.

Should not the UK Government take a new initiative to establish

international negotiations with the Government of Vietnam on the

refugee problem?

(See para 164 of Home Office evidence.)

16 The UK played a major role in the setting up of the Orderly Departure Programme which was negotiated in 1979 between the

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/ UNHCR

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