VI VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
SITUATION IN HONG KONG
Nearly 33,000 have arrived so far this year. Boat people population now stands at over 56,000. Hong Kong authorities have coped magnificantly with this massive influx. Acutely conscious of burden this imposes on Hong Kong.
CONDITIONS IN CAMPS
Hong Kong authorities faced enormous difficulties during summer
when arrivals reached 1,000 per day. New accommodation now
completed. Overcrowding reduced, although all centres remain over
capacity.
Cholera outbreak under control, no new cases in the last month.
General health good but over 300 people have contracted malaria
while on route for Hong Kong.
MANDATORY REPATRIATION
Accepted by entire international community that all those
screened out as non refugees should return to Vietnam.
Over 2,000 have been difinitively screened out in Hong Kong.
Have made great efforts to encourage people to volunteer to
return. But only 700 volunteers have come forward. Clear that
voluntary returns cannot provide comprehensive solution to problem.
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Time has now come to make arrangements for those who are not
refugees to be returned to Vietnam in safety and dignity.
USE OF FORCE
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In returning those who are not refugees to Vietnam, normal
deportation procedures would be used, such as those carried out by all countries in deportation of illegal immigrants.
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