Today, more than 9,000 refugees in Hong Kong and Macao endure frustration,
anxiety, and little hope, facing few prospects of ever being able to begin new
lives elsewhere. Since 1975, boat people have arrived in Hong Kong fleeing
war and oppression in their home country, Vietnam. More than 100,000 refugees
have come to Hong Kong, most passing through to resettle in countries such as
the United States. But today, those left behind--some existing in camps for
more than six years--have little or no hope of resettlement either in Hong
Kong or a third country, or of returning home.
of the first asylum countries in the region, the Crown Colony of Hong Kong
presently harbors the largest number of Vietnamese boat people. Yet the
resettlement rate is lowest there. Hong Kong also has many of the longest-
staying refugees. These conditions and others serve to create a serious
refugee problem that calls for urgent international attention and action.
The Hong Kong government itself recently agreed to resettle permanently
250 of the boat refugees, as part of a United Kingdom-initiated effort to
encourage more countries to take refugees now in Hong Kong. Yet, that appears
an exception to a long-stated rule, for Hong Kong has repeatedly made it clear
that it is unwilling to resettle more refugees, saying it has assimilated as
many as it can. Meanwhile, the refugees wait and hope. As time passes,
social problems, including poor mental health, drug abuse, and diminished
readjustment capacities, increase--not surprisingly, given the refugees'
circumstances of lengthy stays, an inhospitable living environment, and dim
prospects for resettlement.
It is time for the international community to address the needs of these
"left-over" refugees. A solution to their predicament must be found that
allows them to begin again, with the dignity they deserve as human beings.
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