TNAG-1424-FCO40-1907-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 145

CONFIDENTIAL

537's fee. 243/5

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DISCUSSIONS WITH

4KK 243/5

RECEIVED IN AEGISTRY

76

LUCE'S VISIT TO GENEVA:

11-12 MARCH 1985:

MR

UNHCR

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1 1 MAR 1985

OF

Y

PA

in

802

POINTS TO MAKE

General

Greatly appreciate UNHCR's work on behalf of Vietnamese refugees. in Hong Kong. Admirable record of providing for refugees in camps and resettling them.

1.

2.

Most concerned about Hong Kong's refugee problem. Camp population is not significantly reducing, despite lower arrival rate, because resettlement level now so low. Closed camp policy has

helped reduce arrivals, but can only be a partial solution. Fear

that unless ways can be found to ameliorate situation, there is likely to be serious trouble in the camps.

Admission of Vietnamese to UK

3. Aware of view

of view that a UK lead in accepting more refugees from

Hong Kong might encourage other countries to increase their offtake. Do you agree with this? As you may know, Select Committee on Race

Relations and Immigration is currently looking at this. But must

emphasise difficulties: high unemployment and integration

difficulties of Vietnamese in UK.

4.6

Repatriation (only with Hartling). Now very concerned that

situation in camps in Hong Kong is likely to deteriorate i f

something is not done to lessen numbers rapidly. Increasing offtake

would help, but won't solve problem and very doubtful if it can be

sustained if arrivals continue at present rate. Our own projections suggest that camp population will start to increase again before long. Believe serious problems in the camps only a matter of time.

5.

Conclusion is that we need to look seriously at ways of reducing

arrival rate as well as increasing offtake rate. Very concerned

that a large proportion of arrivals do not now fit normal refugee

definitions, and seem to be economic migrants.

Resettlement

CONFIDENTIAL