7
CONFIDENTIAL
5. THE RATE OF ARRIVALS FELL SHARPLY AFTER THE GENEVA CONFERENCE: NEVERTHELESS, ARRIVALS SINCE THEN HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL 6,728 IN 1990, 8,470 IN 1981, 7,340 IN 1982, 3,651 IN 1983 AND 2,230 IN 1984. THE PATTERN OF ARRIVALS HAS ALSO CHANGED: 98 PER CENT OF THE ARRIVALS SINCE 1979 HAVE BEEN VIETNAMESE, COMPARED TO A FIGURE OF 27 PER CENT
PRIOR TO 1979.
6. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT DROPPED EVEN FASTER. 37,463 IN 1930, 17,818 IN 1981, 9,247 IN 1982, 4,200 IN 1983 AND 3,694 IND 1984. IN JULY 1982, IN THE FACE OF A CONTINUING HIGH RATE OF ARRIVALS AND A SUDDEN RAPID DECREASE IN RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES (FROM AN AVERAGE OF 3,000 PER MONTH IN 1980 TO AN AVERAGE OF 770 PER MONTH IN 1332), THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT RELUCTANTLY FOLLOWED THE POLICY OF OTHER FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, AND INTRODUCED CLOSED CENTRES. THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY WAS INTRODUCED TO REDUCE, NOT STOP, THE RATE OF ARRIVALS. IT IS A DETERRENT. SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION, ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG HAVE DECREASED FASTER THAN IN THE REGION AS A WHOLE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE REGIONAL DECREASE IN 1984 WAS 11 PER CENT, WHEN COMPARED WITH 1983, WHEREAS HONG KONG'S DECREASE WAS 39 PER CENT.
7. NOT UNEXPECTEDLY, CRITICS HAVE CONDEMNED OUR CLOSED CENTRE POLICY, SAYING THAT THE INDEFINITE DETENTION OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IS AGAINST BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS LEFT WITH NO ALTERNATIVE: TO CHANGE THE POLICY WOULD RESULT IN A RENEWED INFLUX. IN ADDITION, THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN HONG KONG WOULD ALSO RESENT WHAT IT SEES AS MORE FAVOURABLE TREATMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, WHILE WE MAINTAIN OUR VERY TOUGH POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA (ALL ILLEGALS ARE REPATRIATED, EVEN IF THEY HAVE CLOSE FAMILY LINKS IN HONG KONG).
8. THE ONLY LASTING SOLUTION TO HONG KONG'S, AND THE REGION'S, PROBLEM IS TO STOP THE MIGRATION FROM VIETNAM. IF THE TAP CAN BE TURNED OFF, THEN THE RESIDUAL REFUGEE POPULATION IN HONG KONG COULD BE RESETTLED. IN JANUARY 1985, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED. THAT INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SHOULD BE ADOPTED, IN PRINCIPLE, SUBJECT TO HMG AGREEING TO HMA HONOI APPROACHING THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO SEEK ITS VIEWS AND TO SEEK AN ASSURANCE THAT THOSE RETURNED WOULD BE ACCEPTED AND WOULD NOT BE MALTREATED. WE DO NOT PROPOSE, AS OUR CRITICS HAVE SUGGESTED, TO ABANDON THESE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE TO THE MERCIES OF VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.