TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 107

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PRIME MINISTER

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Vietnamese Boat People in Hong Kong

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1. There has been a sharp deterioration in the problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. So far this year nearly 3,500 people have arrived in Hong Kong by boat from Vietnam, seven times as many as in the same period in 1987. On average there have been some 120 arrivals each day in May. The total refugee population in Hong Kong is now over 12,300, a 60% increase on this time last year. And there are strong indications that the rate of arrivals will continue to increase. The camps in Hong Kong are already over-full and barely able to cope.

2. By contrast, resettlement departures this year (just 840) have dropped dramatically. Most of the people now arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam are regarded as economic migrants who fail to meet standard resettlement criteria. Resettlement alone clearly cannot even contain the problem,

let alone resolve it.

3. There are strong political pressures on the Hong Kong Government from Unofficials and the public to take steps to deal with the crisis. They are now considering a new policy designed to deter the flow of economic migrants while ensuring continued access to first asylum for genuine refugees. It would contain the following elements:

CONFIDENTIAL

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