RESTRICTED
EC/ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING, DUESSELDORF, 2-3 MAY 1988
BRIEF NO 6: INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES
References
A.
B.
Refugees in camps in South East Asia, February 1988.
EC Offtake of Refugees from Indo-China, 1975-1987.
Essential Facts
1. Hong Kong currently has largest case load of Indo-Chinese
refugees outside Thailand. Currently some 9,600 Vietnamese boat
people in Hong Kong. 115,000 refugees and 280,000 displaced
Cambodians in Thailand, 9,100 in Malaysia. Singapore and Brunei maintain hostile approach, refuse to countenance arrival of
refugees.
2. Resettlement slowing, partly as result of belief in main
resettlement countries that many now fleeing for economic motives,
rather than in fear of persecution. Frustrated by slow down in
resettlement, upsurge in arrivals, Thailand resorted to policy of "pushing-off" new arrivals early this year. Has now amended its
stance, allowing arrivals to be housed at Site 2 refugee camp, but they will not be allowed access to resettlement places until present resettlement camp (Phanat Nicom) cleared. Hardline policy has sympathy, if not active support, of rest of ASEAN, which regards Western countries as having responsibility to resettle continuing outflow. ASEAN also increasingly regards current departures as "economic migrants", not genuine refugees.
3. To date over 20,000 Indo-Chinese refugees resettled in UK. But main resettlement countries consider our present efforts (468 over 2 years from Hong Kong) as inadequate believe we should do more in Hong Kong. USA in particular therefore concentrating its efforts elsewhere in region. In search for more effective solutions, we are consulting with main resettlement countries (US, Canada, Australia)
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