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UKS:15
080210 #20-MONGKONG-REFUGEES (GENERAL FEATURE: SEE PIX)
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SAYS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES A WORLD PROBLEM
By Paul Mingus
arounc
HONG KONG, Jan 8, Reuter - Thousands of Vietnamese "poat people" are stranged in grim refugee camps scattered Prosperous mong Kong, forgotten for years by tne international Community.
Rejected by resettlement countries for lack of skills, family ries and proof of persecution in Vietnam Y the refugees live in closec, prison-like camps in the British colony, which wisnes they would leave.
But few do ano more keep arriving. Social and psychological problems mount in camPS now overcrowded with 9,400 poat people
20 house 12,000 in 1988.
and expected
"It is not nong Kong which is keeping refugees in the closed camps, "Nigel Frenca, the colony's principal assistant secretary for security, colo Reuters.
at
"If we nag an international guarantee that ali poat people arriving in nong Kong would be resettled within a reasonable AMOUNT of time, there would be no reason to nave the closeo Camps
ail: ne saio. A V.S. refugee officer who has Thailand and The Philippines, said Hong Kong's poat People confined in smaller spaces * with less freedom of movement, for Longer
perioos of uncertainty and demoralisation.
"You never
coured refugee
CAMPS in
are
see to such a great extent people so dependent out of control
they are nere. That's a terrible thing for humans to experiences and when it happens for a long time, it Coes terriple damage," the officer saiG.
Officials from western countries; the United Nations Hign Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and workers in Hong Kong's five camps told Reuters the problems of long-stayers
rejected for resectiement
are simmering.
Inose
or
Arrivals of poat people from the Vietnamese coast 600 miles (1,000 xm) away soared 60 per cent in 1987 to 3,330, up from 3.087 in 1986. Most are from northern Vietnam fleeing the COMMUNIST army's oraft and poverty.
Refugee resettlement plunged in 1987 by 42 per cent to 2,206, from 3,816 in 1986, a sign of "compassion fatigue" stiff resettlement criteria in western countries besieged oy the woris's 12 million other refugees.
Prospects of repatriating refugees co Vietnam are tied ร manoi's continued military presence in Kampuchea, slow progress in winning guarantees that Vietnam won't persecute returning Joat people, and multi-lateral aid for its war-devastateo
economy.
Although 110,000 refugees have been resettled from Hong Kong since 1975, ixs camps now teem with long-stayers who are overlookеo each year as new and more eligible refugees arrive.
Nearly 28 per cent of the 6,400 refugees in Hong Kong's closed camps nave beer there for more than two years, including almost. 1*100 for five years or more. Another 3,000 refugees have lived in a squalid open Came since 1982.
mong Kong itself nas *aken in 14,000 refugees since 1975, out many DOAT People Go
it not want to live in the colony when to Chinese rule in 1997 and reverts
look to the West for a nome. Meanwhile mong Kong: WALCO each year Turns DACK Toousands of illegal immigrants from China: faces charges that it coodles Vietnamese refugees if it improves educational, living or work ConGitions in the closed cames.
The United States accepted 1,500 Vietnamese refugees last May from Indonesian and Malaysian camps after those countries threatened to turn away arriving poat people, diplomatic sources Tolo Reuters. Some local politicians nave said Hong Kong should
00 the same.
The United States, by far the largest taker with 63,486 refugees from nong Kong since 1979; accepted only 321 last year! compared to 1,323 in 1986.
Canaca,
second with 19:438 resettled, took in 724. Britain nome to 13,000 coat people from Hong Kong, year accepted only 137.
last
Australia, with 6,000 Hong Kong refugees, took 453 in 1987. Refugee officials from Western countries criticise Britain for refusing to cake more refugees or failing to lead an international diplomatic initiative to clean out Hong Kong's
closed camps,
"Bricain has just chosen MOI To be a significant player in the refugee situation," said Migel Thomson first secretary for immigration at the Canadian Commission. "we are not prepared to criticise Hong Kong closed camp policies unless there are viable alternatives.
Canada › which expects to accept 1.000 refugees in 1988, nas Decome Ime MOST Sought-after nome, especially by northern Vietnamese whose large numbers account in part for the snapp orop in refugees accepted by the United States.
Security official Frenca saio Britain had tried quietly to fino nomes for more refugees and had agreed to accept 478 DOAT people over the neyt TWO years.
But ne saice "A large number of resettlement countries 100% co the V.K. for leadership of the refugee problem as it affects nong Kong, and they nave perceived the U.K. effort as being a
scaling Gown ano A somewhat negative signal."
The UNHCR, which screens refugees for resettlement, officially opposes the closed camp policy and its Chief of Missione Fazlul Karımı told Reuters the problems of tne policy were increasing wita time.
Camp
"IT Qulis the people, frustration puiles, there are Sympton:S of pyschological stress. with each passing month and day the pressure is worse," Karim said.
The nong Kong government, which never expected people to remain in the camps for years 1 1 S considering a plan to permit refugea cnitoren to attend public schools.
A UNSCR-iec working group is compiering a craft proposal renacilitate long-stayers chrough comprehensive Language ano work training in hopes that resettlement countries will eventually take them.
In the meantime :
Hong Kong plans a fourth closed camp นีย
Cope witA The rising number of refugees.
A western cipiomaty referring to China's eventual Takeover
of Hong Kong, summed up what many cynics now fear!
"Is Britain really concerned
Alwon't be their propiem.
TO
this proslem? By 1997, it
REUTER MFF AMA
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