CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY DIST 2
153103
MDHIAN 7909
HKD 243/8
Q
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 03080OZ FCO
TELNO 1646
OF 03050OZ MAY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,
103
MY TELNO 1539 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
WASHINGTON
2,449 THIS YEAR UPTO
ARRIVALS CONTINUE AT A VERY WORRYING RATE
TODAY (3 MAY). WITHIN A 24 HOURS PERIOD ON 1/2 MAY, 265 ARRIVED (I.E. ON ONE DAY WE HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN THE EQUIVALENT OF THE UK RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME FOR A YEAR). OUR TOTAL POPULATION IS NOW OVER 11,200. THIS IS NEARLY HALF AS MUCH AGAIN AS THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
ACCOMMODATION IS RAPIDLY BECOMING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE USE OF TEMPORARY SHELTERS LAST USED DURING THE EVCII INFLUX LAST SUMMER.
·
2. THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF A SHIFT IN THE MIX OF ARRIVALS WITH FEWER NORTH VIETNAMESE AND MORE, THOUGH STILL LESS THAN 50 PERCENT, FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF WHAT WAS SOUTH VIETNAM. BUT 99 PERCENT ARE
STILL ETHNIC VIETNAMESE.
3. THE REASONS FOR THIS RECENT SURGE IN ARRIVALS ARE NOT ENTIRELY
CLEAR. RUMOURS OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN OUR POLICY HAVE BEEN
CIRCULATING FOR SOME MONTHS AND HAVE REACHED VIETNAM. THIS SEEMS TO
BE ACTING AS A PULL-FACTOR. WE ALSO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT SOME DEPART-
URES ARE HEADING FOR HONG KONG RATHER THAN THAILAND BECAUSE OF THE
RECENT CHANGE OF POLICY THERE. I ASSUME THAT THE DETERIORATING
ECONOMIC SITUATION IN VIETNAM MUST ALSO BE A FACTOR.
4. A SURVEY CARRIED OUT ON ARRIVALS IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF 1988
SHOWS THAT THEY ARE STILL PREDOMINANTLY ECONOMIC MIGRANTS. SOME 90
PERCENT GAVE THEIR REASON FOR LEAVING VIETNAM AS THE HARD LIFE THERE, SEEKING A BETTER LIFE OVERSEAS, EVASION OF CONSCRIPTION OR FAMILY REUNION.
5. SEE MIFT.
WILSON
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