TNAG-1801-FCO40-2561-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 83

PM/88/020

PRIME MINISTER

CONFIDENTIAL

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7

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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