TNAG-1751-FCO40-2471-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 18

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VIETNAMESE

REFUGEES

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

During 1987, despite our best efforts and those of

the Hong Kong Government, the situation has

deteriorated. Arrivals in Hong Kong have increased;

departures for resettlement have declined; the

population in camps in Hong Kong has increased.

In May of last year my right honourable friend

the Home Secretary announced a further quota for

resettlement in this country. We have since made

diplomatic efforts to secure matching additional

resettlement offers by others I fear with

disappointing results.

An increasing proportion of the Vietnamese coming to

Hong Kong are from North Vietnam. For many the

motivation in leaving Vietnam is primarily economic:

arguably they do not fulfil the criteria to be regarded

as political refugees. We are now actively discussing

with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

and the governments most closely involved how those

Vietnamese not qualifying as refugees might be returned

to Vietnam, against suitable assurances that they would be

properly treated on their return.

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