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rejected a recommendation that Hong Kong end its policy of holdang
them in closed camps. THIS POLICY WAS Implemented in 178% In order
to deter Vietnamese refugees from seeking asylum in Hong Kong.
Previously, when they arrived in the territory, they were allowed to
live an open camps and seek work locally The Hong Kong authorities
believed that this freedom served as a magnet attracting Vietnamese
to seek asylum. There 15 Some justification for this view because
since the closed camp policy was implemented, the number of refugees
arriving by boat an Hong Kong has dropped by about forty percent.
And that as precisely why the British Government has rejected the
abrogation of the closed camp policy, although at also poзants out
that Hong Kong has never refused asylum to any genuine Vietnamese
boat people arriving there. In fact, at present, there are over
ten-thousand Vietnamese Pretugees ir Ford Ford more than In any other
Country in the regaon.
Clearly, the British Government hopes that
its announcement that it will accept some of these refugees for
resettlement will act as an example for other countries to follow.
After all, Hong Kong itself is one of the most densely populated
Cities an the world and as already having to cope with the problem of
continuing Large influx of legal and 1llegal immigrants from China.
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