TNAG-1899-FCO40-2697-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 140

ware of sensitivities on this issue in Hong Kong.

Vietnamese boat people

5.

Latest statistics for the Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong

put the number at 25,749 of whom: 15,217 are refugees. This

includes 70 refugees screened in. 783 have been screened out.

6.

The Australian Government have supported our screening policy

for boat people. The Australians have for some time recognised the changing nature of arrivals in Hong Kong and have been the main proponents of screening in the Intergovernmental Consultative Group

on Indo-Chinese Refugees (ICG).

7. The Australians have responded to our January 1989 approach to take more refugees by agreeing to double from 350 to 700 their

offtake of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong in this financial year (ie. up to the end of June 1989). They have emphasised that their

willingness to do this was as a result of the introduction of the

screening policy, which they see as limiting the number of new

refugees available for resettlement. The Australians have also said

that, if a regional policy of screening and repatriation can be put

in place, they would be prepared to play their part fully in dealing

with the residue at the International Conference in June. The

Australians also announced in January 1989 that they will

contribute A$100,000 towards the UNHCR programme to assist the

voluntary return of boat people to Vietnam.

8.

Australian offtake of boat people in recent years has been:

1985

1986

1987

1988

501

364

557

459

and 6,402 in total since 1975.

9. A memorandum of understanding, covering the practical

arrangements for the return to Vietnam of boat people, was signed

with the Vietnamese Government on 8 February 1989. The first volunteers should be returning shortly we hope in early March.