TNAG-1530-FCO40-2094-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 70

6

2

" .

Since 1979, Britain has donated mer

In

funds for international relief on the Thai/Cambodian border.

1985 Britain donated over £1.3 million to the United Nations and

voluntary agencies administering the evacuation camps housing

displaced Cambodians The need for such aid is likely to persist as long as the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia continues.

Hong Kong's burden

}

13. Since 1975 over 100,000 Indochinese refugees have arrived in

The main influx of Vietnamese boat people began in Hong Kong. 1979 and the first arrivals, mainly from the South/were of ethnic Chinese origin. From 1980 onwards, however almost all arrivals have been ethnic Vietnamese with no cultural or family links with

Hong Kong. A large minority are from the North and these present problems in gaining resettlement in third countries. Hong Kong has granted temporary asylum to all who have sought it, and some

14,500 Indochinese refugees have been accepted for permanent

resettlement in Hong Kong.

13 M

including record ₤1.35m in

1985 and £6.50,000

for in 186.

14. The problem has been compounded by the fact that Hong Kong has long been the goal of Chinese wanting to leave the mainland. Over 12,000 illegal immigrants were arrested trying to enter Hong Kong from China in 1985 and all were repatriated, in accordance with Government policy, irrespective of any family connexions with resident Hong Kong Chinese. DURING THE SAME PERIOD

HONG KONG

ADMITTED

し

ок?

Over

27,300 MAINLAND CHINESE

le

WHO SATISFIED HER IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS.

15. Under half of the refugee population are accommodated in "closed" centres, which were introduced in July 1982 to house all new arrivals in pursuance of a policy of "humanely deterring" further influxes. Residents of closed centres are debarred from

seeking outside employment. The SCORRI Report acknowledged that the reasons for introducing closed centres were "understandable" but recommended that they should be abolished and their inmates transferred to open camps.

Neither the British nor the Hong Kong

Government was able to accept this recommendation. The policy of "humane deterrence" has proved effective in diminishing the burden on Hong Kong as a convenient gateway.

. It has never been the Governments' intention that closed

AMNYT

BY RESETHE

DEUT

/camps