TNAG-1421-FCO40-1904-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 64

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said that Hong Kong would be Japan's second priority after Thailand;

but he gave no indication as to how many

might represent.

resettlement places this

5.

A

detailed

countries

A

summary of the positions

in response to our approaches i s

showing the numbers they have

at Flag A.

tak en

t ak en by individual

attached. A table

from Hong Kong in the past i s

Comment

6.

So far this year the

fallen by about 2,000 and now stands been due mainly to the low level of arrivals from Vietnam: only 992 refugees have arrived since January, compared with 2019 during the

equivalent period in 1984.

The comparatively high level of departures

total Hong Kong camp population has

stands at 10,000. This decrease has

(3329 compared with 2747 in the equivalent period in

1984) has also contributed to the decrease in the camp population.

I f in 1986 refugees were to arrive and depart at the same rates as

they have done this year (and taking into account the likely number

of births in the camps), the population might fall to around 7,500

by the end of 1986.

7.

on

It is impossible yet to predict accurately how such a figure

would be affected by places offered as a result of our campaign. In

addition to the 210 further places offered by Australia and New

Zealand, and the 490 to which the UK is committed, it is possible,

the best hypothesis, that another 450 or so may materialise in Japan and West European countries, which could reduce

reduce the

the overall

population to about 6, 200. If the Americans were

to offer an extra,

say, 400 places, and the Australians were to tak e a further 200 (they have so far said only that their off take will be increased by

between 200 and 400), the population might then drop to about 5,600.

This figure might be further reduced if for example the Home Office

we re to agree to take the "further limited numbers" which they have

undertak en in the White Paper to consider, and if Hong Kong were

similarly to agree to accept a limited number

limited number of ethnic Chinese from

the open camps. Hong Kong's decision will almost certainly depend on how many extra refugees the UK decides to take in addition to the

490.

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