TNAG-1530-FCO40-2094-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 65

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

A)

6,779

REFUGEES FROM INDOCHINA

SEPTEMBER

October 1986

(revised)

1517028

The atrocities of the Khumer

Rouge when they governed Carsodia (1975-1978) and the Kehamuu mwasion of

Cambodia in 1978 and

continuing

occupation gave further ingelis

I. Since the Communists seized power in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the mid-1970s, some 1.75 million people have left these countries in order to escape from the oppressive regimes and poor to the outflow economic conditions there. The steady stream of refugees continues, and by the end of June 1986 there were 1551593 living

(* UNHOR) in transit accommodation in countries of temporary asylum within the region. Thailand has the biggest concentration of registered

124, 942 refugees, with 127/666 people living in camps administered under the aegis of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees

90, 421

27,742 (UNHCR); the majority are from Laos (91435) plus 28,870 Cambodians and 761 Vietnamese. Because of her geographical position, Thailand is the favoured destination of those who flee overland rather than by sea; about 800 new refugees arrive there each month. In addition to those accommodated in UNHCR transit

240,000 centres, over 230,000 Cambodians live in evacuation sites just inside Thailand's border with Cambodia. These people are classified as "displaced persons" rather than as refugees, and are deemed to have fled their homeland not because of a fear of direct persecution, but to escape hardship and economic deprivation, much of it arising from Vietnam's continuing military intervention in

Cambodia

2. In 1985, a total of 22,258 Vietnamese reached neighbouring

15,712 countries by boat, and 12,676 had been registered in UNHCR transit

by the end of

151, 028 Septende centres in the first half of 1986. Of the 155593 refugees

31,982

currently awaiting resettlement, 34724 are Vietnamese boat

had

people. Hong Kong, with a refugee population in transit centres

8,356

Suphanber of 8,718 on 30 June 1986 carries the heaviest burden of temporary or permanent settlement because of its limited land area and high

This paper has been prepared for general briefing purposes. not and should not be construed or quoted as an expression of Government policy.

It is

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