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continue to meet until 1 January 2000).
EXTENSION TO HONG KONG OF 1951 CONVENTION AND 1967 PROTOCOL RELATING
TO THE STATUS OF REFUGEES?
23. Neither has been extended to Hong Kong. The 1951 convention
was not extended to Hong Kong because of the territory's small size X
and geographical vulnerability to mass illegal immigration. The
1967 protocol was applied only to those territories to which the
1951 convention was extended. The Hong Kong Government nevertheless cooperates fully with the Office of the UNHCR and bars, as I am
agree, has
sure
you will appreciate, made a major contribution to the international
to dissist effort on behalf of Indo-Chinese refugees.
24. Incidentally, to our knowledge,
our knowledge, none of the countries of the
region giving temporary asylum to Vietnamese and other Indo-Chinese
refugees is party to the 1951 convention and 1967 protocol. They
nevertheless, like Hong Kong, cooperate as far as possible with
UNHCR in the protection of and assistance to refugees.
Jad
EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TAKE RE FUGEES
FROM OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM PREFERENCE TO THOSE FROM HONG KONG
25. The table in part II of our Memorandum suggests this to be the
case. When questioned as to the reasons for this preference,
resettlement countries tend to reply that they do not see Hong Kong
as a priority because it is a British responsibility.
EVIDENCE OF TENSION, HOPELESSNESS AND POTENTIAL VIOLENCE IN THE
CLOSED CENTRES
26.
Paragraph 19 (i) of part IB of our Memorandum describes the type of
a
example of the problem which can result from the tension in the
centres. Earlier, in February 1983, because of friction between
Northern and Southern Vietnamese, the two groups had to be
segregated into separate centres.
27. As resettlement prospects diminish, the refugees' frustration
is bound to increase. Although the Hong Kong Government aims to
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