file copy
INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES
SPEAKING NOTE
UN 243/
1.
In view of our responsibilities for Hong Kong, the British Government remain very concerned about the continuing outflow of "boat people" from Vietnam. Despite continuing overseas resettlement of "boat people" from Hong Kong camps, new arrivals continue to swell numbers in the camps. Hong Kong's arrival rate this year is nearly double the rate of last year (1,591 in the period January to July 1986 compared with 806 in the same period in 1985). Of Hong Kong's present camp population of 8,582 (as at 1 August), 64 percent have been there for over three years.
2. The problem is not one that affects Hong Kong only: the British Government are also concerned at accelerating "compassion fatique" and the general destabilising effect of unresettlable Indo-Chinese in camps in places of first asylum throughout South-East Asia.
3.
A further problem is that we understand some resettlement countries now refuse to regard many of those in Hong Kong as "true refugees", and thus will not include them in their resettlement programmes. This creates severe difficulties for Hong Kong, which is faced with the prospect of a large (and possibly increasing) group of unresettlable refugees in its camps.
4.
Against this background we would welcome an opportunity to consider jointly and informally with the main resettlement countries and UNHCR what might be done to resolve the present problem of the continuing outflow from Vietnam, in order to relieve pressure on Hong Kong.
5. We understand informal discussions are already taking place periodically in Geneva between local representatives of US, Australia, Canada, Japan and UNHCR which address the same sort of concerns as we have. If you agree we feel it would be helpful if we could be included early in these discussions. We are making the same points in the capitals concerned.
UK Permanent Mission
Geneva
3 September 1986
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.