TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 163

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JALAIO

more etnamese refugees were

for settlement in the UK 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. On the contrary it must be said

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

rather

resentment among the local population:

i) because of the drain

which could otherwise be used for

their own benefit;

ii) because (with regard to those in open camps) of the

Vietnamese on the local labour market;

of

iii) because of the contrast between the reaction of arrivals from

Vietnam and the necessary policy of repatriation of illegal

immigrants from China, many of whom may have been seeking to join

relations in Hong Kong.

15. Moreover I think it is

that our lack of action over

resettlement is viewed critically in Hong Kong as a shirking of

of our

responsibilities towards a .....territory. In short I believe that

the local population shows our hope for an early resolution of the

problem of refugees. I do not think supposed local resentment shall

such and Leave others to answer the

cause us to

responsibilities of resettlement.

CLOSED CENTRE POLICY

16. As I am sure you know, close centre policy was introduced in

July 1982 in an attempt to deter further boat people from setting

out from Vietnam. The measure was forced

forced on the Hong Kong

Government by events: resettlement prospects for those in Hong

Kong's camps were deteriorating, while refugees continued to arrive.

That is still the situation, and the Hong Kong Government can

therefore see no alternative but to continue the policy at present.

17. Success of Closed Centre Policy?

No absolute proof, but Hong Kong arrival rate decreased by 38% in

1984 over 1983, compared with SE Asian regional decrease of only

17%. This suggestspolicy is having some effect.

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