TNAG-1426-FCO40-1909-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 109

CJ1AC J

CALL ON MR O'NEILL BY

DIVISION,

UNHCR: 24 JUNE

CONFIDENTIAL

MR VOLFING, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

BACKGROUND

in

camps in Hong Kong

in closed camps from

1. 11,000 Vietnamese refugees are currently

awaiting resettlement. Half are accommodated

which they are not permitted to

to seek

seek outside employment (since July

1982 all newly arriving refugees have been placed in such camps in

order to deter others from setting out from Vietnam for Hong Kon

on g)

RESETTLEMENT

2.

The countries

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find

places for the refugees in Hong Kong,

resettled most refugees from Hong Kong

Canada and Australia.

respectively.

resettlement

which have

in recent years are the US,

In 1984 they accepted 1551, 1008 and 736

The UK has accepted some 19,000 Vietnamese since

1975, including 12,000 from Hong Kong. However because of the Home

Office's present strict criteria for admission, only family reunion

and ship rescue cases are now being accepted. 88 refugees from Hong

Kong came to the UK on this basis in 1984. We have been heavily

for taking SO few refugees from Hong Kong.

regard it

criticised

countries

Other

as shirking our responsibility for the territory. They have hinted strongly that they might raise their

offtake from Hong Kong if the UK gave a lead by accepting more.

A

SCORRI REPORT

3. The Home Affairs Sub-Committee

on Race Relations and Immigration

(SCORRI) published a report in April 1985 entitled "Refugees and

Asylum with Special Reference to the Vietnamese". A copy of the

recommendations relating to Hong Kong is attached. We are currently

considering these in consultation with the Home Office and the Hong

Government' $ reply to Parliament will be in

the form of a Home Office White Paper, with an FCO contribution

matters for which we are responsible. Νο da te has yet been

Home Office are aiming for July, but timing may slip.

Kong Government.

The

on

set:

SCORRI RECOMMENDATION FOR INCREASED UK IN TAKE FROM HONG KONG

20 May

4.

The

Secretary of State wrote to the Home Secretary on

CONFIDENTIAL