TNAG-1916-FCO40-2720-Accommodation-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 8

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3 yzers.

Charles Haswell Esq Hong Kong Department FCO

Dear Charles

1917

6 September 1989

I understand that in conversation with Celia Dale you asked us to put on paper our understanding that there may be some reluctance on the part of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong to move to Bataan (or a regional processing centre elsewhere) because they would lose their present incomes.

This is a view that came out of the visit I and Joy Danby made to Hong Kong in July and emerged mainly in conversations with Save the Children Fund staff working in the camps. (It was mentioned in my note of 17 July to Nick Sanderson reporting on the visit which was copied to Robert Footman). Essentially we were told that there had been a shift in mood amongst refugees which began with the liberalisation of camp regimes allowing them to go out to work each day. Most refugees who can work, do work, finding it very easy to obtain unskilled jobs in factories. Given that they do not have to pay market rates for accommodation and food, their spending power is good by Hong Kong standards and wonderful by Vietnamese. Refugees are making up for lost time, buying consumer goods and enjoying themselves.

The additional factor is ICIR and the understanding that whatever they do the refugees will be resettled somewhere. Overall there has been an enormous disincentive to participate in activities such as English classes aimed at making refugees more attractive to resettlement countries.

Our extrapolation from this is that early resettlement will not be the priority it was for individual refugees twelve months ago; and any move to an RPC that is not clearly linked to movement on to resettlement shortly afterwards is likely to be unattractive and could arouse active resistance.

cc Ms Dala

Yours

Peter

P WRENCH

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