TNAG-1535-FCO40-2099-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 47

DSR 11C

CONFIDENTIAL

practice of the Hong Kong Government in repatriating

illegal Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong can generally

be considered a success. Several factors have

contributed to this:

(a) Although the policy has been criticised by certain

groups, including ethnic Chinese inhabitants of Hong

Kong and humanitarian bodies around the world, the

extent of the problem facing Hong Kong, the limited

room for manoeuvre of the Hong Kong Government, and

the general support for the policy among the Hong

Kong population have been widely recognised;

(b) The policy has generally been carried out with the

agreement of the Chinese authorities, which share a

common interest in maintaining Hong Kong's stability

and have treated repatriated illegal immigrants

leniently;

(c) Operations to capture, hold and return illegal

immigrants have been undertaken in a low-profile

manner and the illegal immigrants themselves have

generally accepted their fate quietly.

too

7. Policy with regard to Vietnamese refugees in Hong

Kong has also varied. From 1979 to date over 140,000

Vietnamese entered Hong Kong as refugees, many having

left China illegally and posing as direct arrivals from

Initially, the refugees tended to be of Chinese

stock. Since 1980, most have been ethnic Vietnamese,

Vietnam.

CONFIDENTIAL